Information for patients - He parongo mo nga turoro

Information for patients - He parongo mo nga turoro
Some important things you need to know before you come to the hospital or health centre.
Etahi ahuatanga whai tikanga me mohio koe i mua i to haerenga mai ki te hohipera, ki te pokapu hauora ranei.

General Information
Ward Patient Information | He pärongo mö ngä türoro i roto takotoranga
Outpatient Information | He pärongo mö ngä türoro ö-waho

Your medical records - Ö whakaaturanga whakaora
We collect and hold information about all our patients so we can provide the right care and treatment. Your information is confidential and the only staff who are allowed to see your records are those who are involved in your care.

You can ask to see your records, or those of your dependent children, and can ask us to correct them if you think something is wrong. You can also ask us for a copy of your records.

How is your information used? - Pëhea ai te whakamahi ö pärongo
Your family doctor gets a summary of your treatment and any special instructions they need to know, unless you ask us not to do this. If you don’t want us to send this information to your family doctor, please let us know when you are admitted or come to an appointment at the hospital or health centre.

Some patient information is used in a general way to help with research and planning so we can improve our services. But there are strict rules about how we do this and your privacy is always protected.

We also, by law, have to provide some details to a secure health register if you have certain infectious diseases and cancers. The law provides protection for your information and we comply with these laws.

Mental Health and Intellectual Disability
If you are being treated under the Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992 and or the Intellectual Disability (Compulsory Care and Rehabilitation) Act 2003 written information regarding your rights and status is given to you on admission to the service. You also have the right to speak to or see a District Inspector to discuss any concerns you may have about any breach of your rights.

Your consent to treatment - Tö whakaae kia maimoatia koe
You may need to make choices about your treatment and care. We will provide the information you need in a way you can understand.

We will tell you about your condition, options and the likely benefits, risks and costs (if any) of each option – and when we can provide the service. We will also tell you the results of any tests or procedures you have had. You can ask for this information in writing.

You can expect to be able to discuss your options with us privately and in a way that makes you feel comfortable. You can ask as many questions as you like. When you have decided what to do, you will be asked to give your consent.

How do you give consent? - Me pëhea tö hömai i te whakaae?
Your spoken consent is needed for all treatment. You will also need to give your written consent if the treatment, operation or procedure could have long-term or serious effects, or will be done while you are unconscious. You may need to sign more than one consent form.

Who will ask for your consent? - Kei a wai te mahi ki te tono atu mö tö whakaae?
The person who is doing the procedure, or one of their team, will explain everything and get your consent. Where possible children are encouraged to be part of the consent process with their parents or guardians.

You can ask questions and change your mind at any time. You are welcome to have a support person or kaiawhina with you.

I te wä e tika ana ki a koe, pätaitia ngä pätai. Ki te hiahia koe ki te whakarerekë i tö körero, kei a koe anö te wä ki te përä. Ki te hiahia hoki koe ki te mau mai i tëtahi kaitautoko, kaiäwhina ränei i tö taha, mauria mai.

Body parts and tissues - Ngä whëkau me ngä kikokiko tinana
If any part of your body is to be removed, or tissue taken for testing, you can ask to have this returned to you. Otherwise we keep the body part or tissue for 4 weeks, then cremate it and scatter the ashes in a cemetery.

Ki te tangohia he whëkau i tö tinana, ki te haria ränei he kikokiko kia whakamätauria, ka ähei koe ki te tono kia whakahokia atu tënei ki a koe. Ki te kore koe e tono, kua puria te whëkau, te kikokiko tinana ränei e mätou mö te 4 wiki kätahi ka tukua ki te ahi, ä, ka ruiruia ngä pungarehu ki runga i tëtahi urupä.

Helping with research - Te äwhina i te mahi rangahau
We carry out clinical research and trials to help us develop new treatments and test how effective they are.

You may be asked if you would like to take part. You can say yes or no – it’s your choice and your decision will not affect the rest of your treatment. If you say yes you will be asked to sign a consent form, but you can still change your mind at any time.

Helping with training - Te äwhina i te mahi whakangungu
We have student doctors, nurses, midwives and other health trainees who come to the hospital or health centre to get practical experience. They work with trained staff under close supervision.

You may be asked if you would mind a student being involved with your care. We hope you’ll feel comfortable about taking part because it’s a really important part of the student’s training, but it’s your choice. You can say yes or no and it won’t affect your treatment.

We care for you as a team - Whakaaro ai mätou möu i te mea nö te kapa koe
A number of health professionals will help with your care and treatment. You may not see the same person each time – but we work as a team and any decision made about your care will always be discussed with your lead health professional.

Information for ward patients - He pärongo mö ngä türoro i roto takotoranga

Medications - Ngä rongoä
Please bring all your medicines with you, including any natural remedies or non-prescription medicines you use, and give them to your nurse or midwife. If you are diabetic bring your blood sugar monitor. When you leave you can ask for your old medicines back, and you’ll get a prescription for any new medicines you may need.

Visitors - Ngä manuhiri
Each ward has different visiting hours. These are displayed in the ward, advertised in the newspaper, or you can call us for details. Our doors are closed between 9pm and 6.30am. After hours visitors need to go to the main entrance and ring the bell. After hours visitors to the Kapiti Health Centre need to phone 04-298 6032 first.

Phone calls - Ngä waea mai, waea atu
Family and friends can call ‘Patient Enquiries’ for general information. We can’t give confidential information over the phone – so it’s a good idea to arrange for someone close to you to let others know how you are. Most areas have a phone patients can use.

Your security - Tö maru
Please don’t bring valuables with you. If you must bring them, ask your nurse or midwife to put them in safekeeping – you will get a receipt for them and can collect them when you leave. Alcohol, illegal drugs and weapons are not allowed in our hospitals or health centres.

We have 24 hour security on our premises. If you have any concerns please tell your nurse or midwife and they will contact security.

We do not tolerate abuse and/or violence in any form.

Chaplains or advisors - Ngä minita hähi, ngä kaitohutohu ränei
We can arrange for a chaplain or advisor from any religion to visit you, or you can arrange for your own spiritual advisor to visit. If you are in Wellington Hospital, you and your visitors are also welcome to attend services in the Quiet Room, which is open 24 hours.

There is also a Quiet Room and a chapel at Kenepuru Hospital. Ask our staff for service times.

Accommodation - Käinga noho
There is some limited accommodation at Wellington Hospital for people who are supporting patients long-term. Other options include:

Te Pehi Parata Whanau Whare – a kaupapa Maori service for family and whanau who travel from outside the Wellington region
Margaret Stewart House – for out of town cancer patients
Ronald McDonald House – for relatives of patients under 18 (if you live out of town or the child is in intensive care)
Local motels – see the Yellow Pages

While you are here - I te wä kei konei koe
To reduce the risk of injury to our staff we do not manually lift patients. If you require help to move we may use a hoist or another piece of equipment.

Patient meals: In most areas breakfast is from 7am to 8.30am, lunch from 11.30am to 1pm, and dinner from 4.30pm to 6pm. Tea, coffee and Milo are also brought around at morning and afternoon tea and suppertime. Each day you are given a menu to choose from for the next day. A doctor or dietitian may also set a special diet as part of your treatment. Food is very important to your health and well being, so if you have any questions please talk to your nurse or midwife, or ask to speak to a dietitian.

Other services
(Wellington & Kenepuru only)

At Wellington Hospital a trolley comes around the wards in the morning with snack foods, magazines and papers you can buy. Hospital volunteers also visit the wards. They run a library you can borrow books from and can help with small jobs such as reading to you, or going to buy something you need.

Other services for you and your visitors, at both Wellington and Kenepuru, include a café, food vending machines, a shop, a post box, ATMs and a TV hire service. Our staff can tell you more about these services.

Discharge - Te tuku kia haere
Where possible, you will be given 24 hours notice of your discharge time. Please make sure you arrange transport home.

Things to bring with you:

Your letter from the hospital, health centre or doctor
Any related X-rays and scans
All your medicines, including natural or non-prescription medicines
Your glasses, hearing aid, mobility aids, blood sugar monitor (if used)

Extra things to bring if you are staying overnight:

Toiletries including soap, shampoo, toothpaste and toothbrush
A set of comfortable clothes and shoes
Nightwear
Comforts such as an MP3 player, book or favourite pillow
Toys and books (for a child patient)

Things to arrange before you leave home:

A support person to bring you changes of clothes
Someone to be your whanau or family representative so they can let other family and friends know how you are
Accommodation for your whanau or support people, if needed
Services such as a chaplain or advisor, Maori Health Support Service or Pacific Support Service
Leave your valuables at home – don’t bring them with you

Before you leave, check you have:

Your discharge information
Your follow up appointment (if you need one)
Your medications, and prescription for new medicines
Information about your care once you get home
Referral to any community services you may need, such as the district nurse or Meals on Wheels
A number you can call us on if you have questions or concerns
All your personal belongings, including anything in safe custody
Transport to get home – and keys to get in

Information for outpatients - He pärongo mö ngä türoro ö-waho

Information for outpatients can be read here >

Support services - Ngä ratonga tautoko

There is a Maori Health Support Service available to tautoko Maori whanau (patients and their families). The types of things we can help you with include:

Understanding the services available
Making sure your stay with us is safe and supportive
Arranging visits by chaplains or Maori ministers of religion
Arranging accommodation for whanau visiting from another district
Providing you with information about community Maori health providers

Please talk with us if you have any questions about your care or treatment.
Mena he patai tau e pa ana ki tau maimoatanga, uia atu ki tetahi kaimahi.

The Pacific Support Service supports all Pacific patients (and their families) during their stay with us. We can:

Act as a patient advocate
Help you understand your care and treatment
Provide you with health information
Provide information on community and social support services
Link you with community providers

Suggestions & complaints - He whakaaro, he amuamu

Feedback about our services is always welcome. It’s good to hear if we have got it right – and we need to know if there are things we could improve. If there’s something you are unhappy about we have a special process to make sure your concerns are heard and
treated fairly.

If you would like to make a suggestion, compliment or complaint you can talk to the people you’ve been dealing with, fill in our online complaints and compliments form, or download our brochure Tell us what you think [PDF] and send us your feedback.