Overnight patients should bring a dressing gown, night wear, and toiletries. Day patients should come to hospital in comfortable clothing.
Patient Information
Your Rights as a Patient
Bidwill Trust Hospital abides by a Code of Patient Rights, ensuring proper standards are adhered to with respect and fair treatment by listening and recognising your need for dignity, independence, information, support and decision making. We welcome all feedback and complaints.
Your Rights as a Patient
Respect You should always be treated with respect. This includes respect for your culture, values and beliefs, as well as your right to personal privacy.
Fair Treatment No-one should discriminate against you, pressure you into something you do not want or take advantage of you in any way.
Dignity and Independence Services should be provided in a way that respects your dignity and independence.
Proper Standards You have the right to be treated with care and skill, and to receive services that reflect your needs. All those involved in your care should work together for you.
Communication You have the right to be listened to, understood and receive information in whatever way you need. When it is necessary and practicable an interpreter should be available.
Information You have the right to have your condition explained and be told what your choices are. This includes how long you may have to wait, an estimate of any costs and likely benefits and side effects. You can ask any questions to help you be fully informed.
It’s Your Decision It’s up to you to decide. You can say no or change your mind at any time.
Support You have the right to have someone with you to give you support in most circumstances.
Teaching and Research All these rights also apply when taking part in teaching and research.
Complaints It is OK to complain – your complaints help improve services, and It will not have an adverse effect on the way you are treated.
Learn more here: www.hdc.org.nz/the-code-of-rights
Your Admission to Hospital
Thank you for choosing to stay at Bidwill Trust Hospital. The management and staff look forward to welcoming you and hope your stay is pleasant and comfortable. On arrival at Reception you will be accompanied to your room or day surgery lounge and admission procedures will be carried out by the Nurse on duty. Depending on the time of your scheduled operation, there will be a waiting period.
Fasting Before Surgery
If your operation is in the morning, do not eat anything after midnight but you may have water to drink until 6:00am. For afternoon operations, have a light breakfast of toast or cereal (not a cooked breakfast) before 7.30am. You may drink water up until 11:00am. Babies can be breast fed up to three hours before surgery and bottle fed babies up to four hours before surgery. They may continue to have water up until two hours before surgery.
Completing Your Admission Questionnaire
Please complete all portions of the yellow questionnaire numbered 1-9 and return it at least 14 days prior to your admission date. Please use black pen to complete the form. Contact the hospital if you have any problems completing the form. You may be contacted by a Registered Nurse prior to your admission requesting further information/clarification of your health history. We recommend that you read your information booklet to assist you in completing your questionnaire.
Medications
PLEASE BRING ALL YOUR CURRENT DRUGS AND MEDICINES WITH YOU in their original containers. Take your usual medication on the morning of surgery with a sip of water, unless you have been instructed otherwise. Diabetic patients on insulin and/or oral diabetes medication (hypoglycaemics) should discuss their pre-operative regime with their surgeon/GP prior to admission.
What To Bring
Overnight patients should bring a dressing gown, night wear, and toiletries. Day patients should come to hospital in comfortable clothing.
Smoking
Smokers develop more complications than non-smokers. It is in your interest to stop smoking six weeks before your operation, but if your surgery is arranged at short notice, you should stop smoking as soon as possible. You will be contacted by nursing staff and offered smoking cessation referral and support. Ministry of Health Quit cards are available at your GP/Surgeon’s rooms or Bidwill Hospital
Bidwill Hospital has a Smoke Free policy and Smoking is not permitted within the hospital, or grounds.
Accommodation
Overnight patients have a single room with en-suite facilities, sky TV and WiFi. Patients having minor surgery will be accommodated in the day surgery unit.
Valuables And Money
We strongly recommend that valuables and money are left at home. No responsibility can be accepted by the hospital for items that are lost or damaged during your stay, even those in safe keeping.
Children
At the hospital the hospital there is a double room assigned for the hospitalisation and the care of children. Visiting is unrestricted for immediate family. Facilities are available at a charge for a parent to stay overnight with their child. We recommend that a parent accompany their child to theatre and stay until they are asleep. Meals can be arranged for a parent sitting with their child on the day of surgery.
On Discharge
We strongly recommend that you arrange for a responsible adult family member or friend to accompany you home and stay with you overnight after discharge. If, after your discharge from Bidwill Trust Hospital you have any concerns ring the hospital and ask to speak to a registered nurse. If the nurse is unable to answer your queries, he/she will contact the surgeon responsible for your care.
Hospital Closures
If you need assistance following your discharge from Bidwill and the hospital is closed there are instructions on the hospital answerphone service, please listen carefully.
Parking
Unrestricted parking is available within the front car park or at the rear of the hospital in Bidwill Street.
Paying Accounts
You will receive either two or three accounts covering your surgery. Your accounts will come from the hospital, your surgeon and your anaesthetist (if you had one in attendance). If you are covered by health insurance you will need to collate all invoices relating to your surgery and forward these to your company for payment, along with any prior approval information provided. Office hours for payment of accounts: 8.00am-4.30pm, Monday to Friday. Payments can be made by Internet banking, Eftpos, Cash, Cheque or Credit Card.
Compliments / Complaints
The hospital staff trust you have been comfortable during your stay, that your treatment and care has been to your satisfaction, and that you have a speedy recovery. If you have any concerns or suggestions please write to:
The Manager, Val Flynn or Chairman, Mr Mark Hervey
C/- Bidwill Trust Hospital
53 Elizabeth Street
Timaru
Alternatively you can contact the patient advocacy service. This is a nationwide free and independent service.
P:03 684 1594
FREE PHONE: 0800 377 766.
www.advocacy.hdc.org.nz
Our Specialists at Bidwill Trust Hospital
We have 12 surgical consultants who operate at Bidwill Trust Hospital
Admission Form
Please read your Information Booklet carefully, and complete sections 1-9 in black pen. Please print and return completed from to the hospital at least 14 days before admission. You may email a scan or photograph.
DOWNLOAD: Admission Form .pdf
53 Elizabeth Street, Timaru / P: 03 687 1230 / F: 03 688 0542 / reception@bidwillhospital.co.nz
