When you arrive, please report to Reception. We'll check your personal details and your payment or insurance details, after which you'll be collected by the Admissions Unit staff. In the Admissions Unit you will meet one of the nurses who will be caring for you.
Anaesthetic consent
While you're being admitted, your anaesthetist will visit you to talk about the anaesthetic procedure and get your written consent for anaesthesia (and for blood products if required).
There may be a wait between your arrival and your operation/procedure - this is so our staff can prepare you for surgery, and leave time for the consultation with your anaesthetist and surgeon.
Smokefree
Patients and their visitors are advised that MercyAscot premises, including the Mercy Hospital campus, are completely vape and smokefree.
Children under 16
We welcome visits by children prior to their surgery date - this allows them to familiarise themselves with the surroundings, so they're more at ease when they're admitted. Sometimes bringing their favourite toy during this visit can help too.
We will happily arrange for one parent or caregiver to 'room in' with a child patient in a recliner chair or similar. Meals are at no charge for that one caregiver.
Preparation
Your nurse will carefully explain and carry out any pre-surgery preparation. If you have any questions or concerns, please raise these with your nurse, who will do everything he/she can to put you at ease.
Eating and drinking
In most cases you will not be allowed food or drink for at least six hours prior to surgery. However, this must be discussed with your specialist. If you have any questions about these issues and the taking of medication, please discuss these with your specialist.
Anaesthesia
Before surgery, your anaesthetist will visit you to discuss the anaesthetic procedure and obtain your written consent for anaesthesia and blood products should they be required. You must not drive a car within 24 hours of having a general anaesthetic.
After your Surgery
After surgery, we'll transfer you to one of our surgical wards. Here you will be looked after by a team of registered nurses who are highly skilled in the type of aftercare your operation/procedure requires. Together with your surgeon and anaesthetist, they'll work to make your recovery as smooth as possible.
In some cases after surgery, it may be necessary for you to see a dietitian to discuss dietary options that will assist in your recovery.
Rooms are allocated as our house-keeping team makes them available, so you or your family/friends will not be able to access your room until you return from surgery and are ready to receive visitors.
Mercy Hospital Inpatients
Comfortable accommodation is available at Mercy Hospital and many of our rooms have views of the slopes of Mount Eden or the sparkling Waitemata Harbour. It's our mission to make your stay as pleasant as possible. Enjoy delicious meals and keep connected and entertained with direct dial telephone, free Wi-Fi, radio, and SKY TV.
We have single and shared rooms at Mercy Hospital. Single rooms are allocated according to clinical need, e.g. patients with complex clinical conditions requiring long-term stay may be prioritised for single rooms and children are given single rooms. Rooms are also allocated as our housekeeping team makes them available.
You will be charged according to the room you are allocated - patients in our shared rooms are charged a reduced rate.
Ascot Hospital Inpatients
Ascot Hospital features well-appointed accommodation with expansive views of the Ellerslie Racecourse or the surrounding leafy suburbs.
It's our mission to make your stay as pleasant as possible. Enjoy the luxury of your ensuite, with delicious meals available. Keep connected and entertained with direct dial telephone, free Wi-Fi, radio, and SKY TV.
Both Mercy and Ascot hospitals provide short-stay, day-admission facilities.
Please note that some of the amenities might not be available in day stay areas.
Please bring with you:
- Any letters or reports from your doctor or another hospital
- Any X-Rays, CT or MRI films and 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
- Your pharmaceutical entitlement card
- Your insurer's 'prior approval' letter
Please wear comfortable clothing.
Please do not bring any valuables or jewellery as MercyAscot takes no responsibility for their safekeeping.
Children should bring pyjamas/nightdress and a favourite toy.
Admission to Hospital
On arrival, please report to the main reception desk where you will be directed to the appropriate place for your hospital admission.
Pre-admission
- Please discuss with your specialist or anaesthetist whether you should take your regular medications on the day of your surgery
- For your comfort we suggest you wear loose fitting clothing, e.g. track pants and loose tops. Slippers may be a good idea if you are having surgery to your feet or legs
- For children, a spare set of clothing is advisable
- Your admission time is arranged by your specialist. Following your initial admission, the timing of your transfer to the operating room may vary.
Immediately after your operation
After your return from the recovery room, you will stay for a minimum of one hour in one of our short-stay rooms. This time may vary depending on your operation and your recovery requirements.
Going home
If your operation/procedure is carried out under local anaesthetic, you will normally be able to leave the hospital shortly after your return from theatre. Prior to discharge, we will provide you with some light refreshments.
Someone will need to pick you up and someone should be at home with you for at least 24 hours after your operation.
Doctors, nurses and hospital staff work hard to give safe, high-quality healthcare to everyone in New Zealand. For example, hospitals have programmes to make surgery safer, and prevent falls, infections and giving people the wrong medicine.
There are also things you and your family/whānau can do to help you stay safe in hospital. Read more
On admission, your nurse will talk to you about your regular medications and when you take them. They will then store them away safely for you and bring you each dose as they need to be taken.
We do this because the effects of the anaesthetic and pain relievers can make you drowsy or unwell, so your ability to self-medicate properly is reduced. It's just a little detail to keep you extra safe.
Nutritious and delicious meals are important to your recovery and are produced with care every day by our Food Services team.
Room Service enables you to place your meal order directly with the Food Services team between 7 am and 7 pm. Your meal will be made to order and delivered to your bedside within 45 minutes.
All menus are designed in consultation with our dietetic team but if you have any special dietary requirements, please advise the clinical team during your admission.
Phone calls
Staying in touch with loved ones is important for your wellbeing. You can use your mobile phones to make calls in every area of the hospital except for the operating theatre area, the Intensive Care Unit, or any area specifically designated for cardiac services. Family and friends are also welcome to call you using our direct dial facility (phone Mercy Hospital 09 623 6833 followed by the room's extension number | Ascot Hospital 09 520 9505 then 699 plus the patient's room number).
The usual charges apply for calls made from your room to mobile phones and for toll calls.
Free Wi-Fi services
Stay connected with our free Wi-Fi services, which are available throughout the hospital. Passwords are available from the ward reception and Customer Support staff.
Visitors
Contact with friends and family can be an important part of your emotional wellbeing as you recuperate. Our visiting hours are 12 pm-8 pm. If you have visiting needs outside these hours, please discuss the details with a charge nurse.
Your visitors need to check in with reception on the ward before going to your room so we can make sure you're ready to receive them.
Children are welcome to visit but they must be with adults at all times. We recommend that children under the age of five only visit for a short period of time.
If you'd like to have a meal with a family member or friend, we welcome your visitors to dine with you by arrangement. There is a small fee for visitors' meals.
Visitors to patients in Intensive Care, the High Dependency Units, or Cardiac Ward
Because of the specialised care required by patients in the High Dependency Unit (HDU), patients have a rest period with no visitors from 1-2 pm. Patients in the HDU can see no more than two visitors at any one time.
Children under 12 are not permitted to visit this unit without first getting approval from the charge nurse.