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Dunstan Hospital Services

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    Dunstan Hospital is situated close by the township of Clyde at the entry to the Cromwell Gorge (199km northwest of Dunedin City – approximately 2½ hours' drive). It is located in the Central Otago District.

    Dunstan Hospital has been operating in Central Otago since 1863. The modern, purpose-built facility was extensively refurbished in 2005.

    The Dunstan Hospital facility includes a 24 acute bed inpatient ward (including a three bed High Dependency Unit) and provides secondary health services to around 28,000 people living in the wider Central Otago and Wanaka regions.

    Central Otago Health Services Ltd (COHSL) is the community owned, not-for-profit company which is responsible for providing health services out of Dunstan Hospital.

    Our Mission

    Our mission is to provide an integrated health service that is client/patient focused, clinically competent, efficiently delivered, well coordinated, culturally appropriate and meets the changing needs of the COHSL service areas.

    COHSL employs over 150 staff and contractors in a range of health disciplines and support services. We participate in teaching a range of health professionals.

    Dunstan Hospital does not provide an Accident & Emergency (A&E) Service.  In an emergency dial 111

    Procedures

    GP After Hours Service

    After Hours GP Service is an urgent after hours healthcare service which operates from 6pm to 8am - 7 days per week.

    Central Otago does not have an Emergency Department. In an emergency, please dial 111 and ask for an ambulance.  The nearest EDs are located at Dunedin Public Hospital or Lakes District Hospital in Frankton.

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    Accessing the GP After Hours Service (between 6pm and 8am)
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    If you need to access URGENT healthcare please call Healthline on 0800 611 116.
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    The phone triage service will take your details and if appropriate make arrangements for you to be seen by the After Hours GP service.

    Please do not present directly at Dunstan Hospital in Clyde. We do not accept “walk ins” - you must call and be triaged first.
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    Where are we located?
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    The After Hours GP Service operates from the rear of Dunstan Hospital, 29 Hospital Street, Clyde. Please follow the RED SIGNS when you arrive at Dunstan Hospital. This will take you around the rear of the building to the After Hours GP entrance way.

    Please DO NOT report to the Vincent Ward entrance.
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    Will there be a cost?
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    Yes, costs will apply for this service except for children under 14 years of age. Payment is expected at the time of your visit.

    Our standard fees for patients enrolled with a local GP Practice are:

    6pm to 11pm $100 (GST Inc.) 11pm – 8am $180 (GST Inc.) ACC co-payment $65.00 (GST Inc.) children aged under 14 are free if you live in the Southern DHB region

    NB: Additional fees will be charged for visitors to the area.

    Unpaid debts will incur monthly account fees and any debt recovery costs will be on-charged.

    Needs Assessment and Medical Social Work

    Hours
    8:30am - 5:00pm Monday to Friday

    If a social worker is unavailable a message may be left on the answerphone or with the Community Health Services receptionist.

    Services Provided

    Allocation of home-help, personal care, meals on wheels, etc. Assessment of home and social situation Coordination with other community providers Termination of pregnancy (TOP) counselling Coordination of some aspects of terminal and palliative care

    Chemotherapy Clinic

    Chemotherapy is available every Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday.

    NOTE: Chemotherapy is not a 24/7 service.

    Services Provided

    Specialist chemotherapy nurses Chemotherapy treatment Monitoring of clients who have returned to to the area following treatment Pre-treatment advice and follow up The chemotherapy nurses also act as resource people.     Chemotherapy contact numbers:

    Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday: Phone: 03 440 4300 Extension 52653

    Monday and Friday: Chemo Questions: Phone: 0800 292 963

    Saturday and Sunday: Phone 03 440 4300 and ask for Dunedin Ward 8C

    Appointment changes: Phone: 03 440 4300 Extension 52653 (please leave a message)

    Child Development Service

    Hours
    8:30am - 4:30pm Monday to Friday

    The service is provided in the home, community, pre-school or clinic or via Telehealth.  Referrals that meet service criteria  will be accepted by via mail, consult request or email to dunstancommunity@cohealth.co.nz 

    If a therapist is unavailable a message may be left with the Community Health Services receptionist.

    Services Provided
    Assessment and intervention for children (0-15 years) with a diagnosed physical, sensory or intellectual disability or presenting with developmental delays and their families.

    Diabetes Nurse Specialist

    The Diabetes Nurse Specialist Service is based at Dunstan Hospital, and covers the Central Otago District. Clinics are held in General Practices, via telehealth and in the Outpatient Department. 

    District Nursing Service

    Hours - Alexandra/Cromwell area
    8:00am - 4:30pm Monday to Sunday including Public Holidays.
    Nurse Led Clinic 8.30 am - 3.30pm Tuesdays and Fridays at Dunstan Hospital 

    Hours - Wanaka area
    8:00am - 4.30pm Monday to Sunday including Public Holidays 

    Services Provided

    Specialist wound care Palliative care General nursing care Domiciliary oxygen IV therapy Enteral feeding ACC community (home based) nursing

    Access to Service

    General practitioner referral via ERMS Ward referral / DPH referral via Consult Requests Interdisciplinary referral via Consult Requests 

    Laboratory - Awanui Laboratories

    Hours
    8:30am - 5:00pm Monday to Friday, then on an on-call basis

    Appointments are not necessary but a request form from a GP or specialist is required.  Use of the Awanui Laboratory website to book for a blood test is encouraged but is not required.  If you do not book please note your wait time may be longer. 

    Services Provided

    Biochemistry Blood bank service Haematology Microbiology Skin tests for allergies - by booking only.

    Mobile Surgical Services

    The Mobile Surgical Services bus visits approximately one day every five weeks.

    Visit the Mobile Surgical Services website.

    Occupational Therapy

    Hours
    8:30am - 5:00pm Monday to Friday

    Services are provided in the Vincent Ward, clinic or at home. Referrals will be accepted from GP's via ERMS, internal referrals via Consult Requests or external providers via email to dunstancommunity@cohealth.co.nz 

    If a therapist is unavailable a message may be left with the Community Health Services receptionist.

    Services Provided

    Holistic assessment of the impact health issues and/or disability have on daily life Training and support promoting independent management of disability or health issues Cognitive assessment Environmental adaptations in the home or workplace Equipment provision Personal care items Household management Splints Pre-operation preparation Stress management Remedial tasks to improve function

    Outpatient Clinics

    Hours
    8:00am - 4.30pm Monday to Friday - no Public Holidays. 

    Referrals are reviewed by Dunedin Hospital specialists to assess against the Ministry of Health criteria, and appointments are made accordingly.

    Clinics available include:

    Cardiology^ Colposcopy* Diabetes / Diabetes Educator Dietitian Endocrine Endoscopy * Event Monitoring  Exercise Tolerance Testing^ Gastroenterology General Surgery Gynaecology Liver Clinical Nurse Specialist * Holter Monitoring^ Neurology * Neurosurgery * Obstetrics * Older Person's Health * Oncology - Medical and Radiation  Orthopaedic Pacemaker * Paediatric* Respiratory Retinal Photography Stomal Therapy * Urotherapy / Continence*   *Regional SDHB Contracts ^Joint Private/Public Ventures

    Pharmacy Services (Unichem Alexandra Pharmacy)

    A pharmacy service to the hospital is provided Monday to Saturday. A pharmacist is on call at all times. This service is provided to Dunstan Hospital by Unichem Alexandra Pharmacy.

    Services Provided

    Inpatient dispensing of prescriptions Outpatient dispensing of prescriptions

    Physiotherapy

    Hours
    8:30am - 4:30pm Monday to Friday

    Physiotherapy Services are provided at Dunstan Hospital to inpatients, outpatients (at the unit) and as home visits if transport is not possible.

    If the therapist is unable to answer the phone, a message may be left on the answerphone, or with the Community Health Services receptionist.

    Services Provided

    Treatment of musculoskeletal and respiratory conditions Rehabilitation of neurological, musculoskeletal or other conditions Hydrotherapy at the Molyneux Aquatic Centre Exercise classes Provision of walking aids Respiratory testing ACC treatment

    Public funded physiotherapy is also available through clinics at Wanaka. Contact details are available from the Community Health Services receptionist.

    Vincent Ward Inpatient

    Visiting Hours
    2.00pm - 8:00pm daily, or by agreement with staff

    Services Provided

    24 inpatient beds Rural Hospital Medicine including:  - High Dependency Unit  - Acute Assessment Unit  - General Medicine  - Palliative Care  - Paediatrics Assessment, Treatment & Rehabilitation (AT&R) Post surgical rehabilitation Dunstan Hospital provides generalist rural hospital medical services, with some specialist care provided in conjunction with base hospital consultants Some patients may be assessed and stabilised at Dunstan before being tranferred to Dunedin Hospital   Access to Service All patients are referred through GPs, St John Ambulance or base hospital staff.

    This information has been provided by healthpoint.co.nz, helping people better understand and use New Zealand health services. Healthpoint and Te Whatu Ora Southern do not endorse or adopt the information or materials provided by any of the service providers, and accept no responsibility or liability for any errors, omissions, offers or details in any such information or materials.

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    Emergency contacts

    After hours and emergency
    111

    Call Healthline
    0800 611 116

    Call or text Talkline
    1737

    In a mental health emergency call
    0800 46 78 46

    Call the National Poisons Centre
    0800 764 766

    Call Safe to Talk helpline or text 4334
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    0800 044 334

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    0800 456 450

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