Prior to being admitted to hospital you will receive information about your hospital stay from your primary care physician, assigned nurse or patient educator. You will also receive an admission letter which may have some guidance to help prepare you for admission to hospital. For instance, depending on the reason for your hospital stay, the letter may provide specific instructions as to whether you are able to consume food/drink before your admission.

Contacting the hospital

National Center for Cancer Care & Research, Rumailah Hospital and Al Khor Hospital request that patients contact the hospital the day before admission to confirm their admission date.

Inpatients to the Women’s Hospital and Hamad General Hospital are not required to contact the hospital the day before admission.

All patients have access to HMC hospital interpreter services which can be requested prior to admission through the hospital Nurse. If you are a wheelchair user, by phoning ahead some hospitals (Rumailah, Al Khor and National Center for Cancer Care & Research) will allow someone to accompany you from the main entrance of the hospital to the ward.

Changes to your admission date

Any changes to your admission date should be made in discussion with your Doctor. Patients should contact their primary care Physician in these exceptional circumstances. If you are feeling unwell on your admission date you should still report for admission at the hospital or contact your treating Physician if this is not possible.

What should I bring?

For identification purposes, all patients should bring with them a:

• Valid Health Card
  
• Admission Card
  
• Passport/ Qatar ID/ Driving License
  
• Marriage Certificate (Women’s Hospital)

For admission to Al Khor Hospital, female patients should bring a passport copy and proof of sponsorship (husband’s passport, employer letter or sponsor letter). Female unmarried/ minor patients should bring a copy of their guardian or sponsor’s passport.

All HMC hospitals require you to bring all medical documents and prescriptions you are taking (in their original containers). Once you have been admitted, each hospital will be able to provide you with prescribed medications. If you require a walking or hearing aid, please bring these with you.

For information regarding which clothing/ toiletries are provided and which should be brought, please refer to guidance from specific hospitals.

Additional items can be brought at your own discretion. If you are a non-Qatari resident you are required to pay hospital charges and so should also bring money for the payment of these fees. Other patients may wish to bring a small amount of money for buying items they would like to purchase within the hospital.

Further information

A Patient and Family Handbook, containing further information for patients and visitors can be obtained from the Patient and Visitors service desk in the Admitting Department of most HMC hospitals.