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Auckland Spinal Rehabilitation Unit (ASRU)

Public Service

Description

The Auckland Spinal Rehabilitation Unit (ASRU) is a regional spinal injury rehabilitation service which provides comprehensive care for people with a spinal cord injury from the central North Island to the Far North.

ASRU is part of Counties Manukau Health and is located at 30 Bairds Road in South Auckland in close proximity to Middlemore Hospital.

ASRU is one of two supra-regional spinal rehabilitation services in New Zealand, the other service is Burwood Spinal Unit at Burwood Hospital in Christchurch.

Our catchment area's southern border extends from Taumarunui, Turangi and across to Wairoa/Gisborne. 

The inpatient unit consists of 20 beds dedicated to short term spinal rehabilitation for patients aged 15 and older who have sustained neurological deficits from a spinal cord injury due to trauma/injury or illness.  For more information, see Inpatient Service.

The outpatient service offers regular lifelong follow-up for clients living in the ASRU catchment area.  Patients are either reviewed at the Auckland Spinal Rehabilitation Unit in Auckland or at an Outreach Clinic in their local region. For more information, see Outpatient Service.

 

Spinal Cord Injury Registry releases first report

Falls, sports, and vehicle accidents are the leading causes of traumatic injuries among the 161 people covered by the New Zealand Spinal Cord Injury Registry’s first report, released yesterday by ACC Minister Iain Lees-Galloway.

You may remember the launch of the Registry in 2016, when it was jointly established by ACC, Canterbury District Health Board and Counties Manukau Health, in partnership with the Rick Hansen Institute (Canada).

This report is a significant step toward improving information sharing and the understanding of spinal cord injuries, and the common complications that occur following injury.

Snapshots from the report:

  • New Zealand Europeans make up 47 per cent of all participants in the report, followed by Māori (21 per cent), and Samoans (six per cent);
  • Māori have a much higher incidence of traumatic injuries (28 per cent of all traumatic injuries) than non-traumatic (eight per cent);
  • Males account for 73 per cent of all spinal cord injuries, and are more likely to suffer a traumatic (78 per cent) than non-traumatic injury (64 per cent);
  • Women are more likely to have non-traumatic (36 per cent) than traumatic injuries (22 per cent);
  • The youngest participant in the report was 15 and the oldest was 88. The average age is 51.

Please take the time view the report and the infographic summary provided at https://nzspinaltrust.org.nz/current-nzscir-statistics-and-information/

Consultants

Referral Expectations

Auckland Spinal Rehabilitation Unit (ASRU) accepts referrals from services throughout our catchment area.  Clients must have an acquired neurological deficit as a result of damage to the spinal cord through injury, illness or congenital condition to meet the criteria for ASRU services.

There are two ways of referral to our inpatient and outpatient services:

  1. E-Referrals for Auckland region GPs  only
  2. Website Referral Form for all other referrers. Please complete the form and email with attached pertinent medical history, investigation results and other beneficial documents to  
  3. Contact GP, ACC case co-ordinator, if applicable or other health professional involved in your care.

Acknowledgement of your referral will occur once referral has been received.  

For inpatient referrals, once a referral is accepted for ASRU admission, the Admission Coordinator will liaise with the referrer / acute team and identify the expected date of admission and the plan for transfer.

Services

  • Inpatient Service

    How to refer to Inpatients – click here.
    The Inpatient Unit consists of 20 beds dedicated to short term spinal rehabilitation for patients aged 15 and older who have sustained neurological deficits from a spinal cord injury due to trauma/injury or illness. … More

  • Outpatient Service

    The Outpatient Service offers regular lifelong follow-up for clients living in the ASRU catchment area.  Patients are either reviewed at the Auckland Spinal Rehabilitation Unit in Auckland or at an outreach clinic in their local region. … More PDF

  • Urology Service

    ASRU provides an outpatient Urology Service for the majority of clients living within the greater Auckland region. … More

  • Dietetic Service

    Food and nutrition plays an important role in the rehabilitation process and long-term health of people with spinal cord injuries.  Immediately following injury significant weight loss and alterations to body composition is common making the person vulnerable to low energy levels and pressure ulcers.… More

  • Nursing

    Nurses are registered health professionals and all hold current registration with the Nursing Council of New Zealand (statutory authority) which governs the practice of nurses. The Council sets and monitors standards in the interests of the profession.  The Council's primary concern is public safety.… More

  • Occupational Therapy

    What is Occupational Therapy?
    Occupational Therapists are registered health professionals.… More

  • Physiotherapy

    What is Physiotherapy?
    Physiotherapists are registered health professionals and all hold current registration with the Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand.… More

  • Social Work

    We are a team of qualified social workers who are committed to a practice that reflects an understanding of the Treaty of Waitangi and adhere to the Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics and Bi-cultural practice.… More

  • Resources & Links

    Websites & Email Addresses

    Accident Compensation Corporation
    Counties Manukau Health
    Burwood Hospital… More

  • Spinal Support

    Kaleidoscope:
    The Kaleidoscope programme is dedicated to getting people who happen to be living with a disability into jobs that they love.… More

Document Downloads

Visiting Hours

Visitors are welcome at the Auckland Spinal Rehabilitation Unit between:

  • 11.00 am – 8.00 pm Monday to Sunday (unless other arrangements have been made with the Charge Nurse).

The outer door locks automatically at 8pm and visitors after that time will be discouraged.

We ask all visitors to respect visiting hours and to ensure that children, for their safety and the safety of our patients, are under adult supervision at all times.

We are aware that visits from family and friends have an important part to play in rehabilitation.  However, medical conditions or the rehabilitation programme may alter the availability of visiting times.  It is important to respect the privacy of the person you would like to visit as well as other ASRU rehabilitation patients. 

Travel Directions

FROM: Middlemore Hospital (MMH) to Auckland Spinal Rehab Unit (ASRU)

  • Turn right out of MMH and continue on HOSPITAL ROAD.
  • Turn Right at lights onto MANGERE ROAD, OTAHUHU
  • Turn Right GREAT SOUTH ROAD, OTAHUHU
  • Turn Left BAIRDS ROAD, OTARA
  • End: Turn left into Auckland Spinal Rehab Unit 30 BAIRDS ROAD OTARA, AUCKLAND.

 

FROM North

  • Travel along SOUTHERN MOTORWAY
  • Bear Left at HIGHBROOK INTERCHANGE, OTARA, EXIT NUMBER 443
  • Turn Right onto roundabout and follow the MIT, Otara sign.
  • Turn Right at the Bairds Rd lights and continue along the road to the Spinal Unit.
  • End: Turn right into Auckland Spinal Rehab Unit 30 BAIRDS ROAD OTARA AUCKLAND.

Parking

Parking and disabled parking is available at both entrances to the spinal unit.  We ask that you do not park in the ambulance parking bay directly in front of the entrance to the ward.  It is preferable that you park behind the physiotherapy gym area. Please keep your car locked and do not leave any valuables in your car. There is a security guard on site during some hours, however Auckland Spinal Rehabilitation Unit is not responsible for stolen or lost property.

Accommodation

There are four basic units (one bedroom each) available on a first come, first serve basis on site. These are used short term for family and friends visiting from out of Auckland and inpatients trialling overnight home leave. First priority is given to trial home leave needs.

The units are provided with basic linen needs and there is a laundry room adjacent to the units. It is recommended that you provide extra blankets/bedding as needed.

Accommodation units are not supplied with tea, coffee, milk and laundry powder etc. There is a shopping complex next to the Spinal Rehab Unit.

Due to high usage of the units, a maximum 2 weeks stay has been put in place with review after this time. There can be no guarantee of continued use of units beyond this timeframe or during busy periods.

Before booking the units please feel free to inspect for suitability for you and/or your family. We can also recommend local motels close to the Spinal Unit.

  • Cost of units: $57.60 incl GST per night per unit
  • Full payment is required on arrival
  • Cash and cheque payments only
  • No credit card or EFTPOS available

*NOTE: Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) assistance requires prior authorisation before you book into the units. Payment is not guaranteed, and is limited to 2 nights per week.

For bookings and enquires please ask to speak with our ward clerk, or speak to a unit social worker. For further details phone (09) 270 9000.

Hours for Booking Units – Monday to Friday 8am to 3.30pm

Other

Phone, Fax and Internet Facilities

  • Patients may make short, local phone calls using the ward phone.
  • WIFI: free for 1 hour, thereafter paid daily or monthly plans are available.

 

Local Shopping

  • Bairds Road Bakery
  • Coin Save
  • Domestic & Commercial Laundry
  • Mr Meats
  • Pizza Hut
  • Samoa Finance Money Transfers Limited
  • Vege Oasis
  • Wheels Takeaways

Contact Details

30 Bairds Road, Otara

South Auckland

30 Bairds Road
Middlemore
Manukau
Auckland 2025

Information about this location

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Get directions

Street Address

30 Bairds Road
Middlemore
Manukau
Auckland 2025

Postal Address

Private Bag 93319
Otahuhu
Auckland 1640

This page was last updated at 9:38AM on August 22, 2018. This information is reviewed and edited by Auckland Spinal Rehabilitation Unit (ASRU).