Patient safety is our priority. Our hospitals and emergency departments will remain open. Continue to attend all appointments on the day of the strike unless we have contacted you to reschedule.
Timaru Hospital has a 24-hour emergency department and 131 inpatient beds. It provides a range of medical, surgical, mental health and obstetrics services. Outpatient services include specialist clinics and diagnostic and rehabilitation services.
If your health emergency is not life threatening, but you cannot wait for an appointment with your usual doctor or healthcare provider, go to an after hours or urgent medical centre. They can help you with things like bad cuts, sprains or breaks, minor head injuries, or if you are feeling really sick. You do not need an appointment but might have to wait.
The Timaru Medical Centre after hours service is available for in-person medical care on weekends and public holidays (9am to 11:45am and 4pm to 5:45pm).
Virtual doctor services often have appointments available on the same day. You do not need to be enrolled to use some of them. They are a good option if your usual doctor or nurse cannot fit you in.
These appointments usually take place through a video app or a phone call. There will be a cost.
If you are eligible for publicly funded healthcare, you may be asked to provide evidence of this. To make sure we have the correct information, we recommend you bring your:
passport, including permits and visas or
birth certificate (if born in New Zealand or Australia) or
confirmation of citizenship or
confirmation of permanent New Zealand residency or other residency status
photograph-bearing identification (if you have no passport).
An interpreter service is available if you do not speak English — ask the nurse in charge of your care if this can be arranged.
To access your patient information, complete a release of personal health information request.
Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora has a broad privacy statement to inform you of how we handle personal and health information while you are in our care.
Timaru Hospital visiting hours are 2pm to 8pm, 7 days a week. Each patient is permitted 2 visitors at a time.
Visitors are asked not to eat or drink while in patients' rooms, and whānau and friends should not visit if they feel unwell.
In rooms with more than 1 bed, the number of allowed visitors may be limited due to the available space. Visiting restrictions may also apply if there is increased risk of illness or outbreaks.
In most wards, the morning is reserved for treatments and doctors' rounds, and 12pm to 2pm is quiet rest time for all patients so visitors are not recommended.
There may be reasons you would like to visit outside of these hours. Special arrangements can be made with the charge nurse if you are visiting children, seriously ill or terminally ill patients.
Talk to the ward staff if you have questions about your visit.
Parking information
Parking up to 120 minutes is available along Queen Street and in the car park near the main hospital entrance — there are 6 disability parking spaces.
There are also 2 car parking areas off Edward Street. Parking on High Street has no time limit.
Car parks are unsupervised. Vehicles are left at the owner’s risk.
There is a cafe at the main entrance of Timaru Hospital. It is open weekdays 7:30am to 6pm and weekends 8am to 4pm. The cafe is closed on public holidays.
You will find vending machines in the hospital main entrance foyer. Drinks facilities are available in waiting areas throughout the hospital.
Inward mail is delivered twice daily on weekdays. Flowers and parcels are delivered as they arrive.
Put outward mail in stamped envelopes and give it to your nurse or put it the post box outside the hospital main entrance.
There is a television in the patient lounge of each ward. You may bring your own radio, headphones and television by prior arrangement.
Any personal electrical items, for example, TV, radio, hairdryer or shaver, must be checked by staff before they can be used.
Hospital FM 88.1 is on air 24 hours, 7 days, with local broadcasts on evenings and weekends. Outside of these times, the radio station carries 'The Sound' programming. Requests can be made from within the hospital — phone 03 687 2299.
The whānau (family) room is at the rear of the hospital on level 2, just past the chapel and opposite the orderlies office. Follow the signs to the whānau room from level 1. Drinks facilities are available in waiting areas throughout the hospital.
Free wifi for patients and visitors is available — look for 'Hospital free wifi' in the wifi settings on your device.
A hospital chaplain is on call to offer support, counsel or sacramental ministry. Your personal beliefs, culture and privacy are always respected. The chaplain, or your own religious or spiritual leader, can be contacted at any time through your ward staff.
You will find the hospital chapel between the Clinical Services Block and the Gardens Block. It is open 24 hours for anyone to use.
While you are in hospital you may find it useful to have a support person with you. Our different departments ask you to follow these rules.
Jean Todd maternity unit
You may have a support person with you at any time during your inpatient stay — the person is known as a boarder and they:
must remain in the room
are asked to wear a medical mask
should limit movement through the facility
should comply with our screening process.
Siblings are permitted within visiting hours.
Maternity unit birthing suite
You may have 1 birthing partner and 1 support person with you in the birthing suite.
Your partners (or nominated support person) is welcome, as a boarder, to support you in the entire induction process. As a boarder, they must follow maternity unit rules (see above).
Your partner is considered part of the mother/pēpi unit and is entitled, as parent of the child, to be present once birthed.
All outpatient appointments (including mental health, radiology and Medlab)
You may have 1 support person.
Children who accompany a parent, caregiver or sibling to an outpatient appointment are permitted if there is no alternative childcare available.
Emergency department (ED)
You may have 2 support persons only when you present to ED, if they are needed.
Oncology medical unit, day patient services, pre-admission clinic and endoscopy unit
You may have 1 support person each time you attend for your care, provided we can maintain physical distancing.
Neonatal unit
Immediate whānau (family) only are allowed.
What you and your support person can expect
It helps to know what is expected of patients and what they can expect of us at the hospital. The key services for patient advocacy are the:
Code of Rights (you can find leaflets in patient areas)
Our policy of care posters are displayed throughout the hospital.
When you are a patient in our hospital we ask you to:
be open and honest about your health, so we can work together to plan your care
not smoke, vape, drink alcohol or use illicit drugs
always wear their identification bracelet unless otherwise instructed by staff
not leave the ward without checking with a nurse — we need to know where you are at all times
label all clothing and not bring any valuables to hospital — we cannot be responsible for your possessions
follow staff instructions in the event of an emergency
not use cell phones within 1 metre of any medical equipment or anywhere in ICU/CCU
prepare for medical procedures according to the instructions you are given — if in doubt call the department or ask a staff member
respect the rights of other patients and staff
respect hospital property and return loaned items
tell us if you feel your rights are not being met 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 as a patient to be fully informed about your health situation and care. Ask for more information or question anything you do not understand.
We encourage the support of close whānau or a friend. We are happy to discuss how support people can be involved in your care.
If your tamariki (child) is a patient and you want to stay with them, discuss this with ward staff.
The hospital kaumatua liaison officer can be contacted by phone — call 03 687 2385.
It is important to practice good hygiene while in hospital. It helps everyone to stay safe from common infections.
Visitors should stay away if, in the last 48 hours, they have had:
diarrhoea
vomiting
flu symptoms.
Patients can borrow a phone on the ward to speak to anyone who is unwell and cannot visit.
If you are a visitor, wash your hands or use hand gel at the start of every visit and as you leave the bedside.
If an infection is suspected or identified, a patient may be cared for in isolation. Special precautions are needed when visiting an isolated patient — talk to staff if you have any questions.
Kōrero mai — Talk to Me is a service you can use in the hospital if you are concerned about a change:
in your condition
in the condition of your loved one
in the condition of the person you are supporting.
You can use this service if you feel like you are not being heard.
Concerned? You can press the call bell to talk to a nurse or to ask for the nurse in charge.
Very concerned? You can ask the nurse or nurse in charge to request an urgent doctor review.
Still very concerned? Call 03 264 6625 and ask for a review.
We aim to discharge you by 11am on the day you leave Timaru Hospital. Having a support person can make this easier for you, by making the necessary travel or pick-up arrangements.