We want your hospital experience to be a positive one. It’s useful to understand what you can expect from us, and us from you. The Code of Patients Rights leaflet is available in every patient area. Please ask for a copy. Posters describing our Policy of Care are also displayed throughout the hospital.
While you are in hospital, we ask that you please:
• Be open and honest about your health, so we can work together to plan your care.
• Don’t smoke, drink alcohol or use illicit drugs.
• Always wear your identification bracelet unless otherwise instructed by staff.
• Don’t leave the ward without checking with a nurse, as we need to know where you are at all times.
• Label all clothing and don’t bring any valuables to hospital. While we make every effort, we can’t be responsible for your possessions.
• Follow staff instructions in the event of an emergency.
• Don’t use cell phones within one metre of any medical equipment or anywhere in ICU/CCU.
• Prepare for medical procedures according to the instructions given to you. if in doubt, ring the department or ask a staff member.
• Respect the rights of other patients and staff.
• Respect hospital property and return anything loaned.
• Tell us if you feel your rights are not being met to your satisfaction, or if you are unsure about any aspect of your care.
• Tell us if you have any spiritual or cultural needs that are not being met.
We support your right to be fully informed about your health situation and care. Please don’t hesitate to ask for more information or to question anything you don’t understand.
We encourage the support of a close relative/whanau or friend and we are happy to discuss how they can be involved in your care. If your child/tamariki is a patient and you want to stay with them, please discuss this with ward staff.
Family/whanau and friends are welcome to email a patient in Timaru Hospital. Simply click on the following email link: messagetopatient@timhosp.co.nz. Please be sure to include the patient's name in the subject line of your email so that the message can be appropriately delivered.
Many Staff Will be Involved in Your Care
You can expect all staff to introduce themselves and explain their role in your care. All staff wear identity badges.
While in hospital you will be under the care of a specialist consultant, who may have the support of a house surgeon. During the week you will be seen daily by a doctor. During weekends a doctor will see you if needed.
You will always have a nurse or key worker assigned to your care. If you need help at any time, use the call button at your bedside and in bathrooms to ring your nurse.
Your nurse will be supported by a team of other professionals including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, psychologists, dieticians, pharmacy staff, radiology technicians, social workers, care assistants, and administrative staff. You can ask to see any of these people.
Information About Your Healthcare
We collect information about you and your health for many reasons - to provide you with appropriate care, to keep you and others safe, to plan for and fund health services, to carry out teaching and research, and for statistical purposes. We share this information with others involved in your care.
Be assured that your information is kept secure and only authorised people have access to it. This may include other agencies, where authorised by law.
You have the right to request copies of any information Timaru Hospital holds about you and to request changes to inaccurate information.
Please contact the Privacy Officer if you have any questions.
Privacy Officer
South Canterbury District Health Board
Private Bag 911
High Street
Timaru
Phone: 03 684 1338
Fax: 03 688 6868
Email: privacy@timhosp.co.nz
We Welcome Your Feedback
Timaru Hospital staff want to improve the services we provide. We welcome your comments, positive or negative, as part of our efforts to identify what we do well and what we could do better. Please let staff know immediately if you are unhappy with any part of your care so issues can be resolved.
You can give feedback by:
• Talking to the staff concerned;
• Completing a comment and suggestion form available in each ward or outpatient area;
• Contacting the Timaru Hospital Quality Depart-ment at Private Bag 911, Timaru, ph 03 684 1451.
Timaru Hospital is SmokeFree
South Canterbury District Health Board is a smoke-free environment and workplace. This means smoking is not allowed in any building or surround-ing grounds.
Help, advice and nicotine replacement therapy is available if you experience difficulties regarding smoking — just ask ward staff.
Items to Bring With You to Hospital
• Any items specifically requested in the letter sent to you confirming your admission date.
• Medications prescribed by your doctor and any others you are currently taking.
• Any private x-rays or scans.
• Nightwear, dressing gown, day clothing and slippers.
• Soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, shaving kit, comb, brush, sanitary items if required, and tissues.
• Glasses or contact lenses, hearing aid, walking aid, dentures.
• A favourite toy or blanket for a child.
• Change for the telephone/newspapers.
• Pen, paper, books, magazines. Please remember, we cannot take responsibility for your belongings. Any personal items left after your discharge will be disposed of after three months if we cannot identify the owner.
Discharge from Hospital
Our aim is to discharge patients by 10 am. Please make sure you have made arrangements to be picked up.
Visitors
We ask visitors to check with ward reception on arrival to ensure their family member or friend is accepting visitors.
In general, wards are open to visitors between 2pm and 8pm, but there are some exceptions. Some wards provide a “patient rest period” and visitors are not admitted during this time. Because visiting times vary across the hospital, it pays to ask ward staff what hours they are currently open.
Visiting Coronary Care, Intensive Care, and Neonatal Intensive Care is by appointment only.
Cell Phones & Handheld Devices (PDAs)
Cellphones and electronic devices like PDAs can interfere with medical equipment. Please do not use these items within one metre of medical equipment or anywhere in ICU/CCU. If in doubt, check with your nurse. We ask that you comply with any staff request to turn off these items.
Parking
120-minute parking is available in the car park near the main hospital entrance, which has six disabled spaces, and along Queen Street. There are also two car park areas off Edward Street. Parking on High Street has no time limit. Car parks are unsupervised. Vehicles are left at the owner’s risk.
Non-New Zealand Residents
You will be required to provide proof of eligibility for publicly-funded health services; for example, details of your work, student or residency visa.
If you cannot provide this proof, you will be required to pay for the health services you receive.
Advocacy Service
A free, independent Advocacy Service is available to support you, your relatives and whanau, and help ensure your rights are respected. The service can be contacted on 03 684 1594.
Hospital Chaplain and Chapel
An ecumenical chaplain is on call to offer support, counsel, or sacramental ministry. Your personal beliefs, culture and privacy will always be respected. The hospital chaplain, or your own religious or spiritual leader, can be contacted at any time through your ward staff.
The Hospital Chapel, located between the Clinical Services Block and the Gardens Block, is open 24 hours for anyone to use.
Kaumatua
The hospital’s Kaumatua Liaison Officer can be contacted on 03 684 4000, extension 8643.
Whanau/Family Room
A Whanau/Family Room, located on level 3 near the hospital restaurant, is available for patients and their relatives.
Patient Meal Times
Breakfast 8 am
Dinner 12 pm -12.30pm
Tea 5 pm
If you are on a special diet, for example vegetarian or gluten-free, ask your nurse about the food options available.
Hospital Restaurant
The Hospital Restaurant is located on level 3. It is open weekdays 7 am – 7 pm; weekends and public holidays 8 am – 2 pm.
Vending machines are available in the hospital’s main entrance foyer. Café bar facilities are available in waiting areas throughout the hospital. If you are waiting for tests or a procedure, please check with a nurse before you eat or drink.
Mail/Parcels/Flowers
Inward mail is delivered twice daily on weekdays. For outward mail, stamped envelopes may be given to your nurse or placed in the post box outside the hospital’s main entrance. Flowers and parcels are delivered as they arrive.
Television and Radio
Televisions are available in the patient lounge of each ward. You may bring your own radio, headphones, and TV by prior arrangement.
Please note that any personal electrical items (i.e. TV, radio, hairdryer, shaver, etc) must be checked by hospital electricians before they can be used.
Hospital FM 88.1 is on air 24/7 with local broad-casts on evenings and weekends. Outside these times the station carries “Solid Gold” programming. Requests can be made by phoning 684 1487, or dialling extension 8487 within the hospital.
Newspapers
The Timaru Herald may be purchased each morning in each ward or from the Hospital Restaurant.
Telephones
Public telephones are available at the hospital’s main entrance, in the stairwells on levels 2 and 3 of the Clinical Services Block, and opposite Surgical Ward reception on level 5.
Each ward also has a telephone for patient use – please ask your nurse.
Keeping Infection out of the Hospital
Tell your visitors to stay away if they have experienced diarrhoea, vomiting or flu symptoms in the past 48 hours. A telephone can be borrowed to speak to people who may be infectious.
If an infection is suspected or identified, sometimes a patient will be cared for in isolation. There are special precautions to be taken when visiting an isolated patient. Please talk to staff if you have any questions.