At Kensington Hospital we offer a wide range of surgical services in our modern facility. Our professional nursing staff pride themselves on their personal, friendly approach and high standard of care. The following information will help you plan for your visit to our hospital.

Registration

All patients are referred to the hospital via their specialist. Your specialist will arrange the time and date of your admission and also provide you with details of your procedure and the expected duration of your stay in the hospital. You will also be asked to complete a hospital admission form. Please return this form to the hospital at least 1 week before your admission date.

Admission

On arrival please report to the reception desk, where you will be directed to the appropriate place for admission. What should you bring?

• Any X-rays, CT or MRI films or reports.
• All medications you are currently taking, including herbal and natural remedies. Please also ensure you bring these medications in the bottles they were dispensed in. Day stay patients bring a list of medications you are taking.
• Any relevant letters or reports from your doctor.
• Reading glasses or hearing aides.
• Children bring your favourite toy.

If you are staying overnight you should also bring:

• Bed attire, dressing gown
• Slippers / footwear
• Personal toiletries
• Reading and writing materials as you wish.

If you are a day patient please wear comfortable clothing

Valuables & Jewellery

Please do not bring these as Kensington Hospital cannot take any responsibility for their safe keeping.

Meals

Nutritious meals are prepared onsite and the menu options take into account the wide variations in patients’ requirements and preferences. Meal times are approximately:

Breakfast 8.00am

Lunch 12 noon

Evening meal 5.30pm

Interpreter Service

This is available if needed, it is best to arrange this with the specialists’ rooms prior to admission to enable us to have an interpreter available on your arrival.

Helping with Training

We regularly have student nurses come to the hospital to gain the practical experience they need as part of their training. They work with experienced staff under close supervision and you may be asked if you would mind a student being involved with your care. We hope you’ll feel comfortable about this however it is your choice and we will not be offended if you decline.

Maori Health Support Service

We are able to access Maori Health Support through theWhangarei Hospital. If you require this service please contact Kensington Hospital.

The Inpatient Suite

For patients staying overnight we have a comfortable 19 bed inpatient suite. In-room

amenities include:

• Ensuite bathrooms (except for the 4 bed room)
• Sky TV
• Laptop connections
• Complimentary newspapers daily
• Radio
• Telephone (cell phones may be used in the IPS)

Preparing for Surgery

Your specialist will explain the nature of your operation to you and you will have the opportunity to ask questions about the operation, the likely outcome, after-effects and

how long it will take to recover etc. However it is important to note that every operative procedure requires specific preparation. To give you a general understanding of what to expect, we have prepared the following guide list:

• In most cases you will not be allowed food or drink for at least 6 hours prior to surgery, however this must be discussed with your specialist.
• You should take your normal medications unless otherwise advised by your specialist.
• Please shower prior to admission.
• For some operations you may undergo special preparation such as shaving or bowel preparation.
• We will endeavour to contact you the day before admission to answer any questions or concerns.

Prior to your admission please consider the

following:

• How will you manage at home following your operation ie. meals, showering, housekeeping, groceries etc.
• Will you need any special equipment to assist you at home ie. wheelchair, walking frame etc?
• How will you get home from hospital?
• Who will stay with you overnight after discharge?

If you have any concerns relating to any of the

above, please discuss this with:

• Your GP
• Your Specialist
• Your ACC Case Manager ( if ACC client) or contact us at the hospital, we can offer advice and assist you with preparing safely for your discharge
• home.

Anaesthesia

On the day of surgery your Anaesthetist will visit to discuss your anaesthetic with you and obtain your consent. You must not drive a car within 24 hours of having a general anaesthesia or sedation; therefore you must have someone to drive you home.

Discharge

• Before you leave the hospital your specialist or a nurse will advise you of what to expect over the coming days as you recover. Arrangements will also be made for aids or crutches.
• If you are going to require additional support following discharge eg District Nursing, we will arrange this for you.
• You may be given a follow-up appointment by your specialist.
• Medication—the nurse will ensure you have a prescription on discharge if requested by your specialist. Your prescription can be filled at the Kensington Pharmacy next to the hospital, which is open until 9pm everyday. You will be required to pay for your prescription at the time of collecting it.

Driving

For patients staying in the Inpatient Suite it is advisable to have someone to drive you home on the day of discharge. Day Patients must have someone to drive them home.

Account Payment

If you are a member of a private medical insurance scheme, please contact your insurance company prior to admission. If you are an ACC Patient, approval from ACC is required before admission. Accounts from the hospital, surgeon, anaesthetist and physiotherapy, and ambulance service will be sent directly to you after discharge.

The Hospital accepts Bankcard and Visa

Your Rights and Responsibilities

Kensington Hospital is committed to delivering care within the Code of Health & Disability Services consumers rights. We encourage you to:

• Be actively involved in decisions about your care.
• Respect the rights of other patients.
• Comply with the no smoking policy.

Privacy

Kensington Hospital complies with the Health Information Privacy Code. All personal information is protected by the Privacy Act 1993. By law we must retain your health

information for 10 years. You have the right at any time to access any health nformation about you held by Kensington Hospital. If you have any questions or concerns about the way in which your health information is managed by Kensington

Hospital, please contact the Clinical Services Manager or discuss it with the Inpatient Suite Charge Nurse.

Patient Satisfaction

Our objective is to provide excellent service and care, and we value feedback from our patients. On discharge you will receive a feedback form. We would appreciate it if you could complete this form and either return it to the hospital or leave it at your specialists’ rooms.

Advocacy

Access to the Advocacy Service is available by contacting (09) 430 0166. This is a free and confidential service should you require assistance with a concern.

Convalescing Care

Convalescing care is available for patients who meet the criteria for this. If you are interested, speak to you specialist or contact the hospital about this service.

Assistance at Home

All patients must have someone at home to care for them for at least 24 hours after discharge.

Kensington Hospital is a smokefree building.