Phone (09) 486 8900

Freephone 0800 80 93 42
Patient enquiries:
(09) 486 8930

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Waitemata District Health Board

 Promise: best care for everyone

Values: everyone matters; with compassion; better, best, brilliant; connected

Waitemata DHB provides health services to approximately 500,000 residents of North Shore City, Waitakere City, and Rodney District. It has the largest population of any district health board.

North Shore Hospital is accessed by Shakespeare Road in Takapuna, and is situated on the shores of Lake Pupuke. The ward tower block overlooks the Rangitoto Channel and the magestic Rangitoto Island on one side, and the Waitemata Harbour with views extending towards Auckland City on the other.

The hospital provides the following acute services:

• up to 131 surgical beds
• up to 163 medical beds
• a surgical unit with nine operating theatres (including a dedicated obstetric theatre)
• an Emergency Care Centre (ECC)
• an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with 5 beds
• a Coronary Care Unit (CCU) with 9 beds
• a Cardiac Catheter Lab (CCL) with 4 beds
• a Maternity Unit
• a Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU)
• an Endoscopy Suite
• Radiology Services
• Pathology Services
• Anaesthetic Services
• General Surgery, Orthopaedic, ORL, Urological and Trauma surgical services
• Ophthalmology services are provided by visiting specialists
• an Allied Health team consisting of: social workers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech language therapists. Dietitians also work on the wards but through Nutrition Services
• Renal Services

We have visiting specialists running clinics in the areas of neurology and oncology.

There is full paediatric and obstetric/gynaecological cover, with emergency physicians and intensivists in their respective areas.

There are two wards specialising in the assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of patients over 65 years of age. Specialist outpatient clinics are also provided for older adults.

Mental Health community and inpatient units are based on or nearby the North Shore Hospital site.

Transition Lounge

North Shore Hospital’s Transition Lounge is a facility where patients can await discharge away from the busy ward environment.

Open from 9.30am to 6pm daily, except for weekends and public holidays. The lounge is situated in the hospital’s ground floor Ambulatory Day Centre (accessible via Entrance 2).

Transition Lounge staff can help patients with their discharge arrangements and the facility offers a comfortable area for patients awaiting transport home.

For patients unable to be collected at the standard discharge time of 11am, the Transition Lounge offers a safe waiting point.

Patients who do not need a high level of care and who are not awaiting the results of tests can be transferred to the lounge where they will remain under the care of their medical team until fully discharged.

The lounge features comfortable seating, a television, phone, and free hot beverages and meals for patients, who are cared for by a registered nurse and a healthcare assistant.

Mission: TO MAKE A HEALTHY DIFFERENCE

Medical and Surgical Wards
Visiting hours are between 2pm and 8pm.

Maternity Suite
To ensure that women have the opportunity to rest, visitors are encouraged to keep to the visiting times below:

• Partners may visit between 7am and 9pm
• General visiting is between 2pm and 8pm
• There is a strict one-hour mum and baby sleep time between 1pm and 2pm every day.

Special Care Baby Unit

• Parents are welcome to visit at any time, day or night. You can also ring the Unit directly at any time for updates. We also welcome your other children visiting, but request that their visits be brief and supervised.
• Adult family members and friends are welcome when accompanied by you or if you list them on your baby’s visitors’ list. It is important that this list is kept up to date. Any person not listed, and not accompanied by you, will not be allowed to visit. Please let friends and family know our visiting policy in order to avoid disappointment.
• Infection and illness are a threat to premature babies, therefore visitors’ children may not visit.
• There is a limit of two visitors around the bedside at any one time. Visitors are welcome to use the family waiting room.
• Please ensure that all visitors are free from infections and colds as our babies are susceptible to these illnesses and need protecting from them.

Coronary Care Unit
Patient visiting hours are between 11am and 1pm and again between 3pm and 8pm.

Intensive Care Unit
Please liaise with the ICU staff regarding appropriate visiting times.

Emergency Care Centre
Please liaise with ECC staff regarding appropriate visiting times.

Caffe Ritazza is a public cafe in the main foyer of the hospital. It sells a variety of hot and cold food and drink, and also has vending machines for snack food and drinks. There are magazines available for sale.

It is open Monday to Friday 7am - 7pm, and Saturday to Sunday 9am - 4pm.

There are two vending machines in the reception area of the Emergency Care Centre for after hours refreshments.

North Shore Hospital is easily accessible via State Highway 1 (Northern Motorway). Take Exit 419 onto Northcote Road, turn left onto Taharoto Road, then right onto Shakespeare Road.

See AA Road Map and Hospital Site Map on the left of the page for directions.

Bus Stops
North Shore Hospital has two bus stops centrally located on either side of Hospital Road, within the North Shore Hospital grounds and just a short distance from the hospital’s main entrance. There are also numerous stops located in the surrounding streets. Bus routes, bus timetables and bus fare information is available by visiting: www.maxx.co.nz

Taxis
A taxi rank is centrally located in the North Shore Hospital grounds on the carpark side of Hospital Road. For patients unable to walk to a taxi, a volunteer or receptionist at the hospital’s ground floor main entrance will call a taxi.

Community to Hospital Shuttle Service
The Community to Hospital Shuttle Service is available to transport people to outpatient appointments at North Shore, Waitakere and Auckland Hospitals, the Greenlane Clinical Centre, and the Hibiscus Coast Community Health Centre.

The shuttle services are on demand with no set timetable. Bookings are essential and must be made at least three working days in advance of travel. Please download more information about the service. To reserve a seat please call 0800 809 342 or 09 426 0918 between 9.30am to 4pm Monday to Friday.

Patient & Visitor Parking
Patients and visitors are charged a parking fee as per the schedule of parking charges below. These charges apply 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. Patients and visitors collect a parking ticket from the barrier arm ticket dispenser upon arrival at the hospital. Payment is made at one of the pay stations located at the Main Entrance to the hospital, Entrance 4 and the two pay stations by the lifts in the ground floor of the car park building. Payment must be made before returning to the car. Payment can made in cash, by Eftpos or credit card.

**If you lose your visitor parking ticket you incur the cost of the full daily tariff ($11).

Mobility Parking
There are 30 mobility carparks close to the patient areas around the hospital and 20 on the ground floor of the car park building. They are available to anyone who is on hospital business and who displays a valid CCS permit. If you require assistance and would like to speak to the parking staff please call 0800 101 190 and you will be connected directly to the Traffic Office.

For the hearing impaired you can text 021 274 0617 or 021 591 528 to advise the traffic services team of any special needs that you may have prior to your arrival at North Shore or Waitakere Hospital.    

Barrier Arm Operation
The barrier arms and pay machines operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Cyclists
Cyclists do not pay parking fees. Cycle racks are situated close to Entrance 4 at the front of the hospital.

Assistance at the pay machines or entry/exit barrier
To speak to a staff member use the call button (Telephone Icon).

There is no visitor accommodation available at North Shore Hospital, however there are many motels on Shakespeare Road and in the surrounding area of Takapuna.

North Shore Hospital has an outpatient pharmacy located in the hospital’s main foyer on the ground floor.  It provides a full dispensing and pharmaceutical care service for patients being discharged from hospital, or those attending outpatient clinics. The pharmacy is also able to provide a service to staff and members of the public, and has access to products that may be difficult to find elsewhere. A full range of breast pumps and related devices are available for hire, as well as specialist products such as compression stockings and sleep apnoea machines. The pharmacy also stocks greeting cards, grooming and hair care products, toiletries and a range of gift ideas.

The outpatient pharmacy hours are:

Monday to Friday        8.30am – 6pm
Saturday                      9am – 12pm
Sunday                        CLOSED

An after-hours pharmacy is located in Shakespeare Road, adjacent to North Shore Hospital:

Shore Care Urgent Pharmacy

Monday to Friday                               8.30am – 11pm
Saturday/Sunday/Public Holidays        8am – 11pm

SAFETY

The security team aim to provide a safe and secure environment for patients, staff and visitors. They patrol inside the hospital, the grounds and car parks 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

ACCESS CONTROL

The wards and some areas have restricted access to prevent unauthorised people from entering. All staff carry WDHB identification cards that can be presented on request.

The hospital main entrance is locked at 8pm, therefore those wishing to gain access to the wards after visiting times should enter via the ECC entrance and report to the security office situated in the reception area. The ward should be contacted first to allow permission onto the ward and escorted access will be given by Security.

FIRE DRILLS

The hospital conducts fire and disaster drills regularly. If an alarm sounds please follow staff instructions and do not be alarmed.

CCTV

For safety and protection, CCTV operates in both hospitals, inside and in the grounds.

ZERO TOLERANCE TO VIOLENCE

The Security Department also work with traffic staff, police and ambulance officers when required to provide added assistance should a situation occur.

WDHB has a zero tolerance attitude to violence and aggression to staff and others. If you experience violence and/or aggression nursing staff should be notified.

TREATY OF WAITANGI

Waitemata DHB supports the government policy of reducing inequalities. Working in partnership with Maori at all levels and in all parts of the district health sector helps the DHB ensure participation occurs, resulting in better health outcomes for Maori people who experience inequitable outcomes.

Waitemata DHB's partnership programme is consistent with the Treaty of Waitangi and adheres to the framework outlined by the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000.

CHARGING POLICIES 

People eligible for free hospital treatment:

• New Zealand citizens born in New Zealand
• people with permanent resident status
• refugees admitted by Immigration Service; people over 16 and ordinarily resident or previously ordinarily resident (legally) throughout preceding two years or who can provide proof that they intend to remain for two years
• people under 16 and in the care and control of the above
• Cook, Nuie and Tokelau Islands
• residents of Gt. Britain and Northern Ireland (including premature birth and complex maternity cases but excluding normal maternity or those with pre-existent condition)
• UK Royal Navy personnel
• residents of Australia, except antenatal outpatients
• US Antarctic Expedition personnel
• overseas students enrolled in a course of study of two years or more.

Please Note: People who are not New Zealand citizens may be required to produce evidence of entitlement - passport, residency permit or other Immigration Service documentation when first registering for treatment.

 People NOT eligible for free treatment:

People who fall into the following categories will be billed for the full cost of services provided:

• all other nationalities not mentioned above including Commonwealth nations, Ireland, Japan, Fiji, Western Samoa, Tonga, New Caledonia, Tahiti, Kiribati and Vanuatu
• NZ citizens or their dependants who have not themselves lived in NZ. New Zealanders born overseas must live here to qualify
• people born in the UK or Australia but now resident elsewhere and outside NZ or who have come specifically for treatment
• diplomats, Fullbright scholars except those from UK or Australia
• seamen from overseas ships
• those on temporary permits (student/work/visitor) of less than 2 years’ duration.

Waitemata DHB has adopted the same policies as other Auckland hospitals with regard to people who are not entitled to free or subsidised care.

People will be asked to make arrangements for payment of the full cost of their consultation or treatment ''in advance of admission'' in non-acute cases.

Please Note: Waitemata DHB accepts its obligations in respect of emergency and acute care, but we would remind GPs this is not free for people listed above.

Please note that marriage to a New Zealand citizen or resident does not automatically confer residency status.

SMOKEFREE DHB

Waitemata DHB is a recognised smokefree environment and workplace. This means Waitemata buildings, grounds and vehicles are required to be smokefree at all times. Therefore smoking is not permitted by staff, patients, contractors or members of the public in any area on the North Shore Hospital site.

If patients or visitors are found smoking within the Hospital grounds they will be asked to leave. Repeat offenders may be issued with a trespass notice.

The North Shore Hospital grounds extend out to Shakespeare Road, Taharoto Road and Shea Terrace.

VALUABLES or LOST ITEMS

The hospital allows patients to keep and use personal clothing and possessions. However we encourage you to leave your valuables such as jewellery and large amounts of cash at home. Patients arriving at the hospital will be encouraged to send them home for safekeeping. If items need to be removed and you are not able to make the decision yourself due to your medical condition, nursing staff will itemise and secure any items taken.

If you lose something during your stay/visit please notify a nurse immediately. All lost items are handed in to the Security Office in the ECC reception area.