Waitaki Health Community Services
District Nursing
The District Nursing team operates between 8.00am and 4.30pm seven days a week for the calendar year.
District Nursing is available to all people in the Waitaki District community. It is based at Oamaru Hospital and extends into remote rural areas, as required. On receipt of a referral from any health professional, a District Nurse will visit patients at home, either as requested by their General Practitioner or after discharge from hospital for an assessment of their needs. Urgent referrals are assessed within 24 hours. Non-urgent referrals are usually seen within three working days unless otherwise requested.
To contact District Nursing, please phone (03) 433 0290, press 4 and then press 1, or you can call directly on (03) 433 0670. For Meals on Wheels please phone (03) 4330670.
Waitaki Health Social Work Services
The Social Work Department operates between 8:30am and 5pm, Monday to Friday. The phone number is (03) 433 0290, press 4, then press 5.
The following are examples of what we are able to offer during your hospital stay and in the community:
- Providing information on a range of health/disability/age-related services
- Providing support when you experience health/disability/age-related issues
- Assisting with access to health/disability/age-related support services and funding
- Referring you and your family/whānau to appropriate service providers, including cultural and spiritual support
- Supporting you and your family/whānau during periods of crisis, bereavement, life changes and adjustment
- Organising and facilitating meetings between you and your family/whānau and members of your health care team
- Assisting with discharge planning and arrangements
- Assisting with health-related social issues in the community
- Assisting with health-related appointments (National Travel Assistance, accommodation)
- Assisting with Enduring Power of Attorney and Welfare Guardianship issues
If you, your friends or whānau/family have any concerns about your ability to manage when you are discharged from hospital, please ask to speak to a Social Worker, so we can discuss the services that may be available to you.
Clinical Needs Assessment
The Clinical Needs Assessment Department operates between 8:30am and 5pm, Monday to Friday. The phone number is (03) 433 0290, press 4, then press 6.
Needs Assessment and Service Coordination (NASC) is available to people with an age-related disability. This may enable access to Disability Support Services funded by the Southern District Health Board which include:
- Domestic Assistance
- Support in the home
- Residential Care Placement (if you are considering a move, contact your GP and they will send a referral to us. A Needs Assessment is essential for people entering long-term care).
If you, your friends or whānau/family have any concerns about your ability to manage when you are discharged from hospital, please ask to speak to us so we can discuss the services that may be available to you. You can call (03) 433 0290 ext 9063.
Occupational Therapy
Occupational Therapists (OT) work with people of all ages and their family/whānau to optimise their safety and independence within their own home and workplace. To contact Occupational Therapy, phone (03) 433 0290, press 4 then press 4 again.
OTs asses each patient of their needs, both in the hospital and often at home, considering all factors affecting their ability to manage daily activities. Daily activities that are often assessed include showering, bathing, dressing, and household tasks. OTs consider things such as cognitive ability and mobility around the home. OTs provide education to help with patients’ ability to be independent on discharge from hospital.
An assessment can result in finding new ways of doing things, adapting their home environment or providing equipment that can help to support independence such as wheelchair assessments or other specialised equipment.
If a patient has a long-term disability, a home visit may be required to assess the need for housing modifications and the patient’s eligibility for funding assistance to complete these. You may be referred to the service either by the Hospital Inpatient Ward, your General Practitioner or other health care professionals with the Waitaki community,
Physiotherapy
The Physiotherapy services ultimate aim is to help people achieve their optimum recovery and return of function. Waitaki Health Services Physiotherapy works closely with patients to build a supportive and positive relation to help patients achieve their ideal posture, movement and stability to maintain optimum mobility. The Physiotherapy service is ACC accredited. To contact Physiotherapy please phone (03) 433 0290, press 4 then press 3.
Waitaki Health Services Physiotherapy Provides:
- Inpatient treatment
- Assessment, Treatment and Rehabilitation (AT&R) services for the Elderly
- Outpatient treatment including referrals from General Practitioners and Outpatient Clinics. In particular the Orthopaedic and Fracture Clinics
Conditions treated include respiratory, neurosurgical, musculoskeletal, orthopaedic and sports injuries. The Physiotherapy service also undertakes mobility assessments around the home, looking at things like walking frames and wheelchair assessments to help maintain independence within the home.
Outpatient Department
Our Outpatient Department offers a wide range of specialised clinics that are serviced by both local and visiting consultants that come to Oamaru. This helps the people of the Waitaki District with reducing the travel to our base provider in Dunedin for appointments. Our Outpatient Department is staffed by administration staff, nursing staff and a medical typist. To contact Outpatients please phone (03) 433 0290 then press 5.
We house a range of both publicly funded and privately funded clinics on a mainly monthly basis from our Outpatient Department. Referrals are accepted from other healthcare providers to these clinics and are reviewed against the Ministry of Health criteria and then appointments are made accordingly.
The clinics that are currently offered at Oamaru Hospital are:
| Anaesthetic Pre-Admission | Geriatric |
| Audiology - hearing | Gynaecology |
| Breast | Infusions |
| Cardiac Rehab | Minor Operations |
| Chemotherapy | New Born Hearing |
| Continence | Obstetrics |
| CPSSS (Cancer Psychology) | Ophthalmology |
| Dermatology | Orthopaedic |
| Dermatology (minor operation) | Orthotics |
| Diabetes | Paediatric |
| Diabetes Nurse Educator | Podiatry |
| Diabetes Outreach Nurse | Psychogeriatric |
| Diabetic Eye Photography | Radiotherapy |
| Dietitian | Respiratory |
| ECG | Rheumatology |
| Ear Nose Throat | Speech Therapist |
| Endocrinology | Stoma |
| Endocrinology - VIDYO | Surgical |
| Fracture | Surgical Bus |
| Gastro Liver | Wound or Vascular |
Private Clinics
- Ear Nose Throat
- Gynaecology Bus
- Molemap
- Orthopaedic
- Triton Hearing
If you wish to speak to the Outpatient Department, please call between the hours of 8.00am and 4.30pm Monday to Friday on 03 433 0290, then press 5.