Hospital services

Dunedin Hospital is a Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora - Southern hospital, providing specialist care for our community across the district.

See the specialist services available here below and find out more about accessing these services here.

You can also find important information and frequently-asked questions here.

Visiting hours at Dunedin Hospital are to 2pm - 8pm daily.  

• All visitors are encouraged to wear a mask when visiting people in hospital. If you do not have one, masks are available at all entrances to the Hospital.
• Please do not visit if you are unwell or have any cold or flu like symptoms.

We encourage our community to remain vigilant when out and about by wearing a mask, practicing physical distancing and good hand hygiene. Please stay home if you are unwell, get tested for COVID-19 and keep up to date with your boosters. Mask wearing is still an important way to prevent the spread of illness in health care settings.

The following wards at Dunedin Hospital have special visiting guidelines:

• The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Adult Intensive Care Unit and High Dependency Units have visiting by appointment only. 
• The Adult Intensive Care Unit has a designated quiet time between 9am and 12noon. 

Attending your appointment at Dunedin Hospital

We know that attending an appointment at the Hospital can be a stressful experience. We have provided the following information to help with your health care journey.

There are currently road works in central Dunedin which are affecting traffic flow and car parking. We recommend you factor this in when planning to attend your appointment. 

There are two main entrances to Dunedin Hospital:

1. Great King Street 

There are road works currently being completed along Great King Street.

The drop off zone on Great King Street can be used to drop off patients attending appointments. Vehicles must be then moved on to allow for other patients being dropped off. At this entrance there are wheelchairs available if needed.

There is clearly marked pedestrian access. Please follow the designated signs and traffic management team instructions.

The Emergency Department is accessed from Great King Street into the concourse where there is also a drop off zone. This drop off zone can also be used for patients attending appointments. Vehicles must then be moved on.

Please be aware of emergency vehicles at all times.

2. Cumberland Street (permanent one-way going North)

There is a drop off zone outside this entrance as well. There are steps and a ramp into the Hospital.

Car parking

• Limited outpatient parking is available at the Dunedin upper vehicle concourse, accessed from Great King Street and underneath the Oncology and Hospital buildings, accessed from Cumberland Street. Please check with your relevant team if this is available for your appointment.
• Metered parking is available in surrounding streets.
• Parking is also available in the car park building opposite Centre City Mall on Great King Street and also in the Frederick and Hanover Street carparks.

Assistance

If you require assistance to attend your appointment, please call the phone number on your appointment letter before attending your appointment so we can assist you. This may include arranging an orderly to meet you at the entrance to the hospital with a wheelchair.

More information

If you require more information or have any questions about your appointment, please check the Te Whatu Ora Southern Receiving, changing and attending your appointment page or call the phone number on your appointment letter.

Please note: If you have cold or flu symptoms or are currently positive for COVID-19, please call the phone number on your appointment letter before attending your appointment. The team will be able to provide further information and guidance. 

• Entry through main building front doors 
• Helensburgh entrance through main front doors 
• 9C Entrance closed. 

Visiting hours at Southland Hospital are 2pm - 8pm daily.  

All visitors are encouraged to wear a mask when visiting people in hospital. If you do not have one, masks are available at all entrances to the Hospital. 

Please do not visit if you are unwell or have any cold or flu like symptoms. 

Visiting hours at Lakes District Hospital are 11am - 6pm daily. 

• All visitors are encouraged to wear a mask when visiting people in hospital. If you do not have one, masks are available at all entrances to the Hospital.
• Please do not visit if you are unwell or have any cold or flu like symptoms.

We encourage our community to remain vigilant when out and about by wearing a mask, practicing physical distancing and good hand hygiene. Please stay home if you are unwell, get tested for COVID-19 and keep up to date with your boosters. Mask wearing is still an important way to prevent the spread of illness in health care settings.

Feeling unwell is never fun and can be a worrying and even frightening experience. Please know there are many places you can turn for the medical advice and support you need. Follow our simple flow chart below to find out which service is best for you.

Are you having an emergency (i.e., injuries or medical conditions that threaten life or limb)?

Yes - Go to the Emergency Department. Anyone who is experiencing an emergency medical event that requires hospital-level care should immediately phone 111 for ambulance assistance or go to the Emergency Department. This includes mental health emergencies.

Lakes District Hospital: Lucas Place, Frankton, Queenstown 9300

Queenstown Medical Centre (QMC)’s Urgent Care also provides the public with a viable alternative to the busy ED.

Address: 9 Isle Street, Queenstown    Phone: (03) 441 0500

Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 8 am – 5 pm, with extended Radiology Service hours on Saturdays and Sundays from 1 pm to 5 pm between 1 July and 1 October 2023.

Charges may apply. Please visit the Queenstown Medical Centre website for more information.

Do you need Mental Health services?

Yes - Go to the Emergency Department. Anyone who is experiencing an emergency medical event that requires hospital-level care should immediately phone 111 for ambulance assistance or go to the Emergency Department. This includes mental health emergencies.

Or

Call your GP or Emergency Psychiatric Services

Mental health support is available from your GP, who can refer you to other services if needed.

If you need mental health support urgently, you can call: Emergency Psychiatric Services: at any time on 0800 467 846

• Lifeline: 0800 543 354
• Youthline: 0800 376 633 or free txt 234 or email talk@youthline.co.nz
• Suicide Prevention Hotline: 0508 828 865
• Need to talk? Free call or text 1737 any time for support from a trained counsellor

No, it's not an emergency or not yet an emergency

Call Healthline 0800 611 116

Healthline is always good place to start if you’re unsure of your symptoms and generally feel unwell. Healthline is a free telephone health advice service available through New Zealand at any time of the day or night. Phone 0800 611 116 from either a landline or a mobile phone to access free, confidential health advice from a registered nurse.

Or

Book in to see your GP or after hours doctor

If you can wait to be seen, please contact your GP or after hours doctor. If you are unwell at night or on a weekend, contact the local after hours doctor service:

Queenstown Medical Centre Urgent Care: 9 Isle Street, phone: 03 441 0500

Please note: Children must be enrolled with a GP to be eligible for zero-fee visits with a doctor or nurse. If your child is not enrolled at a GP, additional fees will apply. Free to enrol, talk to the reception staff if you would like subsidised general practice care.

Looking for a GP? Call 0800 478 256 for help enrolling with a general practice.

Or

Seek advice from your community pharmacist

Please remember: Keep the Emergency Departments for emergencies. Emergency Departments are busy places and patients are treated on a need’s basis. Emergencies and severe illnesses will take priority over more minor conditions. Sometimes this can mean waiting times of several hours, depending on the seriousness of your condition. For minor illnesses and injuries, please seek advice from Healthline, your GP or after hours doctor in the first instance. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, please get tested. If you have a musculoskeletal issue, please contact a local physiotherapist.

Don’t wait until it’s an emergency. Get care soon.

Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 8 am – 5 pm, with extended Radiology Service hours on Saturdays and Sundays from 1 pm to 5 pm between 1 July and 1 October 2023.

Charges may apply. Please visit the Queenstown Medical Centre website for more information.  

To prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19, the wearing of facemasks by visitors in healthcare settings and continuing to isolate if positive for COVID-19 are still being strongly recommended. Find out more about the latest COVID-19 public health requirements.

This includes: 

• When in Common Areas 
• In Wards 
• In Lifts/Elevators 

They should also be worn: 

• By inpatients where practicable/sensible 
• When patients are moving through common/shared spaces

We ask visitors to continue to practice hand hygiene and to please stay home if you are sick. 

Entrances for each site are as follows: 

Dunedin Public Hospital 

• Entry through main entrance on Great King Street 

Southland Hospital 

• Entry through main hospital entrance (east entrance) 
• West entrance closed
• Separate entry for Ophthalmology

Wakari Hospital 

• Entry through main building front doors 
• Helensburgh entrance through main front doors 
• 9C Entrance closed 

Lakes District Hospital 

• Access to the Emergency Department (ED) will be from the ambulance entrance (ED entrance off Lucas Place), where there is limited parking.  
• Walk ins to the ED should use the ambulance entrance (ED entrance off Lucas Place) where triage nurses will allocate priority according to triage principles 
• Access to the maternity ward will be through the Main Hospital Entrance off Douglas Street until 6 pm. For access during 6 pm - 8 am, entry will be around the side of the maternity unit at the front of the hospital. Please call your LMC or the maternity unit in advance for pre-screening. 
• Patients visiting the hospital for other appointments including Outpatients clinics, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and X-Ray/ CT or visitors should continue to use the Main Hospital Entrance off Douglas Street. 

For more details at Lakes District Hospital, click here
A map of the changes is attached below:

All cafes are open to the public apart from Snowline Cafe (Wakari) which is only open to Staff.
Restrictions are as follows:

• Face masks must be worn whilst interacting others in the café
• Sanitise your hands
• Maintain the seating arrangements
• Do NOT place your worn face mask on the tables whilst eating.

We continue to provide health services across the region, in order of clinical priority. This may mean managing appointments in a different way such as via online/telephone/non-contact methods. Please be reassured that you will be contacted as soon as we can if you have an outstanding appointment or surgery.

You are allowed one support person with you during your outpatient appointment. Visitor restrictions apply.

If you are having surgery and have had COVID-19, or get it while you are waiting for surgery, please get in contact with your surgical team right away.

Midwifery care and maternity care is an essential service and is available for everyone who needs it. For pregnancy-related care and advice please contact your Lead Maternity Caregiver. Healthy well women with normal pregnancies are encouraged to consider birth at home or their local primary maternity unit.  Women can also consider a postnatal transfer to a rural primary maternity unit for inpatient postnatal care.

Visiting hours are from 2pm - 6pm. We encourage that only spouses/partners, siblings and close family visit outside these times.

• There is no strict restriction on visitor numbers in our maternity services (including primary, secondary, and tertiary services).

• Children can visit if supervised by an adult.

• One key support person is allowed in the inpatient room overnight if the patient is in a single room or if approved by the senior midwife in charge (for multi-bedrooms).

• If the pregnant person is attending a maternity outpatient assessment or appointment, they can bring multiple support people, including children if supervised by an adult. 

You can find out more about the Maternity care visitor policy here: Tertiary Hospital Care | Southern Health | He hauora, he kuru pounamu.