Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora Whanganui Emergency Department and After Hours Care

The Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora Whanganui (Health NZ) Emergency Department provides 24-hour care for the assessment and treatment of serious illness or injury requiring urgent attention.

There are around 22,000 emergency department attendances at our hospital every year.

Our hospital’s emergency team is committed to providing patients with the best possible personalised care available in a small hospital, with all the benefits of having state-of-the-art technology at its disposal.

Please remember, emergency departments are for emergencies.

Emergency Department

Our Emergency Department (ED) is located at Health NZ Whanganui (Whanganui Hospital) and is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

It is for emergencies only - life-threatening or organ-threatening situations that may include: active bleeding; acute chest pain; difficulty breathing; stroke; choking; loss of consciousness; clearly broken or dislocated bones (look obviously deformed).

Our ED is marked by red signage and is based to the right of the reception desk.

On arrival at the hospital, patients are assessed by a triage nurse before being directed to the appropriate service.

If your condition is serious, you will be seen in our ED, according to priority. This process allows the most unwell and most urgent patients to be cared for first.

If you have a minor injury or illness, you will be seen by a primary care doctor in the Whanganui Accident and Medical Clinic (WAM).

Patients with minor injury or illness may wait longer for treatment. Some patients may find it more convenient to see their GP, or after-hours duty doctor, if their injury or illness is not urgent.

If uncertain of the seriousness of their condition, patients can seek advise by calling their GP, or Healthline (0800 611 116).

Once assessed and treated, patients may be admitted to a ward, transferred to another hospital or discharged. If discharged, patients should check the following before leaving:

• Do I know what is wrong with me?
• Will I be able to manage at home?
• If I have a prescription, where can I collect my medication?
• When must I take the first dose of my medication?
• Do I know how to care for my illness or injury at home?
• Do I have transport home?
• Do I need any follow-up care?
• Is my pain under control?
• Do I have a copy of my discharge summary covering the above points and, if appropriate, my ACC form?

Patients are advised to contact their GP, or return to the Emergency Department, if their condition worsens or fails to improve satisfactorily once home.

After Hours Pharmacy Service

After hours pharmacy services operate from the following:

Unichem Whanganui Pharmacy located at 36 Fitzherbert Avenue, Whanganui.

Hours: 

Phone: (06) 344 7614
Fax: (06) 344 7862
Website: www.unichem.co.nz

Countdown Pharmacy located at Countdown Supermarket 433 Victoria Avenue, Whanganui

Hours: 

Phone: (06) 349 0078

To find pharmacies in the Whanganui region go here.

After Hours GP Service

Whanganui Accident & Medical is an urgent care clinic co-located within Whanganui Hospital’s Emergency Department (ED).

It is marked by black signage and is based to the left of the reception desk.

It is open from 8.00am to 8.00pm; no appointment is necessary.

For information on which doctors are accepting new patients in Whanganui please go here.

After Hours Dental Service

All after hours dental emergencies should present to Whanganui Hospital's Emergency Department. The patient will be assessed and they will determine what needs to happen next. Our Emergency Department is at Whanganui Hospital on Heads Road, Whanganui.

Wherever possible, your own dentist should be contacted in the first instance. Toothache does not constitute an emergency.

 

Mental Health Crisis

If you or someone else is at risk of injury you call 111.

For advice in emergencies, contact a mental health services below:

• Whanganui Hospital on 06 348 1234
• WDHB Mental Health Services on 06 348 1234
• Crisis Assessment and Treatment Team on 0800 653 358

If you need to talk to someone call:

National Depression Helpline
www.depression.org.nz
0800 111 757

The Lowdown
www.thelowdown.co.nz
Free text 5626

Lifeline
www.lifeline.org.nz/
0800 543 354

Youthline
www.youthline.co.nz
0800 376 633

Samaritans
www.samaritans.org.nz
0800 726 666

Skylight Trust
www.skylight.org.nz
0800 299 100

Alcohol and Drug Association of New Zealand Help Line
https://alcoholdrughelp.org.nz/
0800 787 797