Te Timatanga
A member of the nursing staff or the ward clerk will welcome you and show you to a room. You will not necessarily be in this room for your entire stay.
To call your nurse
You will always have a nurse assigned to your care. If you need help, ring your nurse by using the call button located on a panel behind your bed head.
Identification bracelet
Always keep your identification bracelet on while in hospital. If it is removed for any reason, please tell your nurse immediately.
Information
Written information about your particular condition may be available. Please ask the nursing staff.
Meals
A menu is provided each day for you to select your meals for the day ahead. Our nursing staff are happy to discuss any questions you may have about your diet or specific menu requests. If you need a special diet due to religious, ethnic or personal preference such as, if you are vegetarian or vegan - your nurse or ward clerk will arrange for the dietitian to discuss your needs with you.
For visitors there are 2 cafes, and vending machines are available on the ground floor near the Accident and Emergency Department.
A general guide to mealtimes:
Breakfast is between 7.30 and 8.30am
Morning tea is from 10am
Lunch is between 12 noon and 1pm
Dinner is between 5pm and 6pm
Most wards have coffee and tea making facilities for patients to use. Check with your nurse. Biscuits of your own may be kept in an airtight container unless you are on a special hospital diet as part of your treatment.
Smoking
The hospital and grounds are smoke and vape free.
Please tell your nurse if you are a smoker as soon as possible after admission. If you want to give up smoking or vaping, Northland's Quit Coach will be able to help you. No drugs or alcohol are allowed in the hospital or hospital grounds.
Leaving the ward
Please do not leave the ward, other than for medical tests, without first checking with your nurse. To make sure you get proper care, we need to know where you are at all times.
Meals on Wheels and Home Help
If you have been using Meals on Wheels or other home help services, please ask a nurse to cancel them while you are in hospital.
Laundry
While you are in the hospital please arrange for a friend or relative to do your personal laundry. Contact the ward nurse manager if you do not have anyone who can help you.
Flowers
Your flowers will be delivered to you as soon as they arrive.
Phone
Card operated phones are available in the main foyers. Other ward telephones are not available for personal use.
Mail
Mail is delivered to all wards from Monday to Friday. Stamped outward mail may be given to your nurse or ward clerk for posting. A NZ Post box is located by the Emergency Department entrance.
The address to send mail to the hospital is:
Your Name
Ward Number
Whangārei Hospital
Private Bag 9742
Whangārei
Emergency procedures
Our staff are fully trained in the safety procedures necessary to cope with emergency situations. In the event of an emergency please stay by your bed until a staff member tells you what to do.
Further information
Patient information booklet