Timaru hospital - Parkside

I am a tourist here in NZ, got bitten by a bug on the back of my hand and swollen. So, I have to pay a visit to the Emergency room as it is on the weekend. This hospital has very clean environment. The receptionist and nurse here are very attentive, friendly, and caring.

Today was my 3rd CT scan experience. The first one I was really unaware of what was happening as it was only my head that was scanned. The 2nd one I felt scared and was quite emotional. Today was awful. Staff were ok, I asked if speech could be louder as I had difficulty hearing instructions against the noise of the machine. I was told to stay where I was till the radiographer saw the scans and decided if he needed to see it clearer. The staff left me for 10 mins waiting lying on bed with arms up, without explanation. Then nurse came in, I could put my arms down ( thank goodness !!) and told me about the dye they would put in and that they would scan again then wait another 15 mins then scan again. I asked to go back to cubicle to wait. Ok. Not a nice experience. I think staff should remember that patients have feelings and need explanation and support. They are doing this all the time as routine and may forget its new for patients.

I moved to Timaru 3 years ago. Nearly anyone that I asked about the local hospital didn't have a good word to say about the place. Only recently got to find out for myself in E.D. Rude staff, sloppy operation, and poorly managed. You couldn't even blame it on budget constraints.

If there was a serious medical emergency in Timaru. The Emergency Department wouldn't be able to handle it! It would only be then that they might actually wake up and realise that. The quicker you get people in and out the more time you would have to stand around doing nothing. It seems like everyone in there is on holiday mode. Best of luck.

My fathers treatment in ICU and the care from some of the staff recently was disgusting. It should be called the neglected care unit. There were only a small number of patients compared to a larger number of staff and I was appalled that his food and drinks were stolen out of the fridge! Doctors were eating his food right in front of him and staff were rude towards him. When he bought things to there attention, like being in pain and short of breath or struggling to breathe. He feared for his life. When a drain pipe for his lung fell out of his chest. I couldn't believe his pain relief was taken away from him before they forcefully tried to stick the old cord into his body before trying a brand new one (Is this not unhygienic?!) then the nurse left the tape with blood on it, on the floor. (Photo attached) Asking his main nurse for anything she would say she would be there in a moment and take half an hour before she bothered to even come to his bedside. I witnessed this myself a number of times while visiting him. For being in an ICU I feel that extra attention was not given to him at all. Thank god he was discharged from the NEGLECTED CARE UNIT and put into surgical ward, as following a infection too his lung that was left with no surgery for days he was finally transferred to CHCH hospital. Comments from chch hospital were that he should have been sent to them a week before he was & he would not have had to go into surgery to get part of his lung cut out! The first day my dad was in chch hospital he was given some breathing exercises to strengthen his lungs. Having had a collapsed lung and being in Timaru hospital for 2 weeks you would think someone should have given him this advice in Timaru. Absolutely disgusted in the care for patients given by some of the nurses and staff in Timaru ICU. It was clear there was a lack of direction and knowledge in this unit. I think the level of care in Timaru was sick and someone needs to have passion to improve the staffs behaviors and level of care given to ALL patients. I feel sorry for the sick people that are not in the position to stick up for themselves !

My wife and I are traveling around the South island at the moment and are along way from my own doctor. I called into the hospital this morning to get some advise and within a few minutes was talking to the lovely treage nurse who found out who the duty doctor was and managed to get me a same day appointment etc. I am sorry, but not good at remembering names, however can I just say a special thanks for the fantastic, friendly service I had.

I'm over this place I went into Timaru hospital this afternoon because a week ago today I fall off my sister's deck that course me to roll my left ankle its swollen, so they said ice it and stay off it. That's what I did until today my ankle had doubled in size I cant walk on my foot and I can't work cause I'm in alot of pain. Seriously what does it take to get more xrays and to see what is actually going on with my left ankle

Awesome doctors and nurses in I.C.U. Thank you Dr Boon, for taking care of my partner who had a heart attack a few times in one night. Thank you, very much appreciated. ? There are some rude staff there, mostly elder ones, who were a bit snooty in there ways, but I ignored them and focused on my partner. They need to learn that if you want us to respect you, then show your patient some respect and compassion. Respect is earned, not given.