Assessment, treatment and rehabilitation services (AT&R) — Otago and Southland

Oamaru Hospital

To contact AT&R at Oamaru Hospital, call 03 433 0290

Southland Hospital

To contact AT&R at Southland Hospital:

• phone 03 218 1949 extension 48787

• Oamaru Hospital (internal link)
• Southland Hospital (internal link)

Oamaru Hospital

The Assessment, Treatment and Rehabilitation (AT&R) day unit is designed as a continuation of inpatient rehabilitation for people over 65 years, with an age-related disability.

When you are ready for discharge from hospital, the multidisciplinary team, in consultation with you, will decide about the need for further rehabilitation.

If this is required, a referral will be sent to the coordinator of the day unit, and you will then be contacted at your home.

Southland Hospital

The service is a mix of geriatric medicine and rehabilitation for older people who often have multiple or complex needs. We provide care and rehabilitation for older people including those recovering from an injury, illness or age-related conditions. We can help you tackle problems associated with disability or ageing that affect your daily living.

AT&R provides:

• inpatient services — AT&R inpatient services are provided in a 22-bed ward with a physiotherapy gym and occupational therapy facilities
• medical outliers — AT&R has 4 medical and surgical outlier beds for patients who meet the criteria
• outpatient services — Geriatrician outpatient clinics are held Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons every week in the outpatient department for booked patients.

AT&R is staffed by a team of:

• geriatricians — specialists in conditions that commonly affect older people as well as how the aging body's needs change with respect to all illnesses
• physiotherapists — experts in movement and function who review what you need to help with walking and provide equipment if needed, as well as exercises aimed to improve movement, pain, weakness or balance
• occupational therapists — experts in function who look at what you do during the day and what might help to achieve things you are struggling with
• speech therapists — experts in problems with speech and communication and swallowing
• dietitians — experts in nutrition and can give advice about diets to gain or lose weight as well as diets that help with certain illnesses
• social workers — provide support for you and your whānau, such as counselling to get through difficult times as well as advice about your rights as a patient
• nurses — specially trained in conditions affecting older people and managing medical and surgical patients.

Services are provided in your home, a clinic, gym or community, depending on the service and your needs.

Oamaru Hospital

You can refer yourself to the day unit, or your whānau, friends or any healthcare professional can refer you.

Southland Hospital

You can be referred to AT&R by:

• your healthcare provider or other health professional involved in your care
• hospital services.