ASHBURTON & RURAL HEALTH SERVICES
Information
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The majority of this information relates to Ashburton Hospital only. If you would like information about the Community Hospitals please contact their Nurse Manager.
A Booklet "All about going to hospital" is available for parents of children being admitted. Please email the Information Officer or telephone Ashburton Hospital (03 308 4149) for a copy.
Clinical Pathways are evidence-based multidisciplinary patient care-plan documents. Patients admitted with some specific surgical or medical conditions (eg hernia, varicose veins) have a clinical pathway as the main part of their medical record for that admission. Clinical pathways are adapted to meet the individual needs of a patient and do not replace clinical judgement. The usual interventions and treatments expected to occur for the particular condition are mapped out on the pathway. Variations from the "expected pathway" are analysed and changes made if indicated.
Patients are given a corresponding "Patient Pathway" and this provides information about their specific condition and about what to expect during the hospital stay.
Information regarding Clinical Pathways can be obtained from Jude Matheson, Clinical Pathway Co-ordinator. Email: jude.matheson@cdhb.govt.nz
If your teeth need attention, it is wise to see your dentist before admission.
If you hear the fire alarm bells ring, remain calm and follow the instructions given to you by staff.
Meals are served to your ward:
| Breakfast | 7:30 am - 8:00 am | |
| Lunch | 12:00 noon - 12:15 pm | |
| Tea | 5:00 pm |
Beverages are available at morning tea, afternoon tea and supper.
If you require a Medical or ACC Certificate please ask your nurse. (You may be required to complete part of an ACC form). After discharge you should contact the Medical Information Officer, telephone: 03 308 4149.
If you wish to apply
for a Sickness Benefit, this should be arranged through Income Support
(corner Moore and Cass Streets, telephone: 03 308 2080). If this
is not possible please tell your nurse.
If you are a New Zealand resident, and a patient in the public health service, no charge will be made for care.
If you are a visitor from the UK, Australia, Cook Islands, Niue or Tokelau, then no charges will be made for your care.
If you are a visitor from a country other than those listed, if you do not intend to remain in New Zealand for 2 years and your admission to hospital is not the result of an accident, then the law requires that you be charged by Ashburton and Community Health Services.
For further information please ask your nurse to contact the Medical Information Officer or, if after hours, the Duty Manager.
Payments may be made by cheque, Visa, Bankcard, Mastercard or cash at the Accounts Office or Pharmacy.
The Privacy Act contains very strict guidelines in relation to your privacy, and our obligations to assist you to protect your privacy while you are a patient in our hospital.
We have produced a pamphlet called "Your Privacy: How we Respect It". This pamphlet summarises your rights and our responsibilities, as outlined in the Health Information Privacy Code. If you would like a copy, please ask your Nurse.
If, at any time during your stay, you do not fully understand the nature of your illness / operation, or if there are any other questions you want to ask, do not hesitate to ask you doctor or nurse. Some questions you may like to ask them are:
- Do my symptoms apply to more than one condition? If so, how do I know my diagnosis is accurate? How can I find out?
- Is there more than one treatment for my condition? If so which one is best for me?
- What are the benefits and side effects of the treatment and/or medicine?
- What happens if I refuse treatment?
To help you understand about the care you have received, another alternative is to:
- Pick someone close to you to be your support person when discussing any of your health concerns or contact the Patient Advocate.
If you wish to do so, you can request that no information be released about you or your presence in hospital. Please do not hesitate to talk to your nurse about this.
Smoking is not permitted on the Hospital grounds. This is in the interest of your own health and the comfort of others.
All hospital staff wear a name badge. Clinical staff wear a uniform so they can be easily identified.
Ashburton & Rural Health Services provides practical education for a range of Health Professionals in training. You may be asked if you would permit a staff member to explain aspects of your case to a student. All staff and students are obliged to keep health information confidential.
Toilet Requisites and Clothing
Adults require night attire, dressing gown, slippers, and toiletries (including shampoo, comb, toothbrush and soap). You may also require everyday clothing. Children should also bring comforter ie cuddly rug, etc, family photo or something that is a familiar link with home, a favourite toy.
All clothing and articles must be indelibly named. Rural Health Services is not responsible for the loss of clothing and/or personal items.
Please talk to your nurse regarding arrangements for your washing.
Please arrange for someone to collect you from hospital.
As you leave, you will be given as a minimum a written Discharge Letter, a copy of this will also be sent to your own doctor/general practitioner. The letter will outline your hospital treatment and any follow up care recommended.
Hard of Hearing, Vision, Interpreters
If you require the services of an interpreter or assistance with hearing or sight, please talk with your nurse.
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A service is held in the Chapel every Thursday
at 11:00am. This service is taken by local Ashburton Ministers on
a rotational basis.
If you would like to attend this service please ask you nurse. We welcome relatives and friends to attend with you. |
The Friends of Ashburton Hospital provide a weekly Library service to all wards.
The Friends of Ashburton Hospital provide a canteen service to all wards on Tuesday and Friday mornings.
The Christchurch Press and Ashburton Guardian may be purchased. Please ask your nurse how to do this. Other papers are available for you to obtain as well, again ask a nurse.
The Patient Advocate service is independent of Rural Health Services. This means the Patient Advocate will review and help you understand or resolve any issues that have happened when you receive care or treatment from Rural Health Services, or Canterbury DHB. They are there to support you and not make judgement. This service is free (it is funded by the Health and Disability Commissioner) confidential and available to everyone.
The Ashburton Patient Advocate can be contacted by:
- Phone: 03 307 8493
Patient
Satisfaction Questionnaires
Every four months satisfaction questionnaires are sent out to discharged patients.
We welcome your completion of these questionnaires as they assist Ashburton & Rural Health Services to monitor the level of service being offered. They are anonymous, unless you wish to sign your name.
There are daily mail deliveries and collections (except Public Holidays).
Mail should be addressed: Name, Ward number or Ward name, Ashburton Hospital, Private Bag 801, Ashburton. If your letter is to a Community Hospital please address it to the hospital and address as listed under 'Community Hospitals'.
If you wish to post mail out of Ashburton Hospital there is a letter box at the Main Entrance, which is emptied at 3:00pm daily.
If you wish to have a radio please bring your own with an earplug or earphones to use so other patients will not be disturbed.
Each ward has a television set. Please ask the permission of the Nurse Manager to have your own individual television set in the Ward. Rural Health Services cannot accept responsibility for any damage that may occur to your television.
Television sets are available for hire during your stay. Contact Smitherams Electrical Service, 22 Moore St, Ashburton Phone 03 308 5065.
If you wish to be visited by a Minister or Kaumatua, please ask you nurse, or a relative or friend to phone the person of your choice.
Information about local Ministers or a Kaumatua is available from nursing staff.
If you are confined to bed and unable to get to a telephone ask you nurse for a telephone to be brought to your bed.
Each ward/hospital has a portable phone, which you are able to use.
A card telephone is situated in the Ashburton Hospital main corridor. Cards are available from the Reception desk.
Your thoughts about our services are important to us, and they will help us to improve the standard of your care.
If you would like to make a comment about any service or care you have received, please contact the Quality Office or complete the online Feedback forms.
All comments are treated in a confidential and sensitive manner and will not jeopardise any future care to you and your family.
ITIM is a workplace staff support programme and is contracted to provide 8 hours a week support to the hospital staff and their families.
Staff get to know Shirley Hawke and Jill Ross as they visit all departments of the hospital.
Relationships are built up at this time and, should the need arise, staff members can arrange to meet for further discussion at another site. Books from the Workplace Staff Support library are available as is referral for specialised assistance.
The many pressures of life, whether they be home or work based all affect work performance and safety and Ashburton Hospital is happy to be providing this service for staff knowing that in turn, the patients benefit as well.
Shirley is on site at Ashburton every Thursday but help is available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day by contacting ITIM on 0800 443 445. Community Hospitals have contact details on the staff noticeboards.
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The Ashburton Courtyard Cafeteria is available for staff and public visiting the hospital. Check for the open times with a staff member or on the board in the main hospital foyer |
Cellphones can interfere with hospital equipment. Please check with staff before using a mobile telephone.
Enquiries from Relatives and Friends
Relatives and friends wishing to enquire about an Ashburton patients day to day progress should ring the Reception Desk at 03 308 4149 preferably after 9:30am (after Doctors’ rounds). For enquiries to other Community Hospitals please contact that hospital directly. You an also make an on-line patient enquiry by completing the Patient Enquiry Form.
It would be helpful if one relative or friend could be delegated to make these inquiries.
Remember, patients may request that no information is to be released. Please respect the patient wishes if this is the case.
When giving gifts of food, please check this with nursing staff as the patient may have special diet needs.
All parcels should be clearly named and left at the Ashburton Reception Desk or with the Nurse on duty at a Community Hospital. Please note that no alcoholic beverages may be brought into the Hospital.
If you would like to phone a patient, please telephone Ashburton Hospital Reception and you will be advised if the patient is available to be contacted.
For your comfort and that of other patients, visitors are to be limited to two at any one time.
Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Visitors to patients in isolation must report to the Nurses Station before visiting.
| Visiting Hours | |
|---|---|
| Ward 1, Ward 3 Daily | 2:00pm – 4:00pm, 6:00pm – 7:30pm |
| Palliative Care | Open visiting |
| Children’s Unit (Ward 3) | Open visiting |
| Chalmers Ward/AT&R (Ward 6) | Open visiting |
| Maternity Centre | Partners/
Support Person/ own children - Anytime Visitors
|
| Community Hospitals | Open visiting |
| Visiting outside these hours is by prior arrangement with the Nurse Manager, Midwife or Nurse in Charge. | |
