After hours and urgent medical centres
If your health emergency is not life threatening, but you cannot wait for an appointment with your usual doctor or healthcare provider, go to an after hours or urgent medical centre. They can help you with things like bad cuts, sprains or breaks, minor head injuries, or if you are feeling really sick. You do not need an appointment but might have to wait.
Lakes PrimeCare is Rotorua’s accident and urgent medical care centre:
- for injuries or accidents
- for urgent medical issues
- when you are visiting Rotorua and need medical care
- if you are not yet enrolled with a doctors' practice
- when your GP is unavailable.
They are open 8am to 8pm every day.
You can contact them on 07 348 1000
Ka Ora provides phone and video consultations for patients in rural communities on evenings and weekends.
When you contact Ka Ora, they will advise you whether the service is available for you and if there will be a fee. Some services are free.
Call Ka Ora on:
- 0800 252 672 (weekdays 5pm to 10pm, weekends 8am to 10pm)
Contact information
Phone: 07 348 1199
Physical address:
Rotorua Hospital
Corner Arawa Street and Pukeroa Road
Rotorua
Postal address:
Health NZ Lakes
Rotorua Hospital
Private Bag 3023
Rotorua Mail Centre
Rotorua 3046
Visiting hours
Rotorua Hospital visiting hours are 8am to 8pm, every day. A support person may also visit outside these hours with the approval of the clinical nurse manager.
We recommend no more than 2 people visit a patient’s bedspace or room at a time.
For the safety of our patients, visitors must wash their hands or use the hand sanitiser provided when entering and leaving the ward.
If you are feeling unwell, it is very important you do not visit the hospital to avoid spreading infection.
Please do not take photos or video of patients, visitors or staff without their permission.
How to get to the hospital
Bus
Bay Bus Route 6 arrives and departs Rotorua Hospital grounds close to the main entrance.
Bay Bus also has bus services from Murupara and Ruatahuna to the hospital.
Health shuttle
The Hato Hone St John Waka Ora health shuttle is available to take patients to and from appointments at Rotorua Hospital.
These shuttles are run by volunteers and a donation is appreciated to help cover costs.
To find out about shuttle times in your area and to book a shuttle, call them on on 0800 925 2672
Waka Ora Health Shuttles — St John
Taxi
A taxi service is located outside the main hospital entrance and a free phone is available near the main enquiry desk.
National Travel Assistance
The National Travel Assistance Scheme helps people who need to travel long distances or travel frequently for health appointments.
Parking information
There are over 300 free car park spaces on the Rotorua Hospital campus. You can access the main car park from Pukeroa Street, near the entrance to the emergency department.
Carparks are only available to people visiting or using the hospital.
Rotorua Hospital map
Facilities
The Vibe Garden Cafe is open daily from 7am to 7pm with a selection of cabinet and cooked food.
There is also a coffee kiosk in the Rotorua Hospital atrium.
Chaplains
A hospital chaplain is available 24/7. Ask hospital staff to request a chaplain for you, or call them on 07 348 1199 and dial extension 8793 when prompted.
Our chaplains:
- offer spiritual care to all who request it
- help people explore and discover purpose, meaning and hope
- offer the ministry of reconciliation with self, others and God
- offer sacramental ministry such as Holy Communion and anointing, scripture readings, prayer and other religious services on request
- are available to patients, whānau and staff.
Chaplains can also connect you with a member of your own denomination or faith if you want.
Volunteer chaplaincy assistants are trained to help our chaplains in their work.
Chapel
You can find the chapel on the ground floor of Rotorua Hospital beside the Children’s Unit. Overlooking Mount Ngongotaha, it is open during the day for prayer, reflection and quiet retreat. After hours it can be opened by calling 07 348 1199
There is a book for you to write prayers in if you would like, and the chaplain offers these prayers to God.
Inpatients have access to a telephone. Ask a member of staff if you need to use one.
There are no laundry facilities available at the hospital.
Patient and visitor information
Te Aka Matua advocates for Māori patients and their whānau and works to achieve health equity and better health outcomes for Māori.
They are located at the front entrance of the hospital, opposite the security and attendants' station.
Te Aka Matua lead a karakia at 8am on weekdays in the Rotorua Hospital Atrium. All patients and staff are welcome.
Contact:
- Email teakamatua@lakesdhb.govt.nz
- Phone 07 349 9009 extension 8829 or 8806
Our social workers can provide advice and support to patients and whānau at Rotorua Hospital.
They will provide a supportive, understanding and non-judgemental social work service taking a holistic approach.
Our social workers can:
- help you identify what support you will need after you have been discharged
- provide support and intervention for child protection issues, elder abuse and intimate partner violence and family harm
- provide guidance on ACC and Needs Assessment and Service Coordination
- provide therapeutic conversations on grief, loss or challenging health issues
- help with discharge planning from hospital to home or rest home
- provide information on available community support services
- complete referrals to other support agencies in the community
- provide advice on financial assistance such as from the Ministry of Social Development or ACC
- provide guidance on legal processes such as Enduring Power of Attorney and the Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act
- provide support on aged residential care processes.
Respecting your rights
We work to ensure:
- your confidentiality is respected and your right to privacy is protected
- the social work service you receive is sensitive and appropriate to your personal and cultural beliefs and values
- you receive all the information you need to make informed decisions on your care needs
- you are informed and involved in all decision making on your health and wellbeing.
Interpreter services are available for people who do not speak English well and for people who communicate by sign language. Some services are available by phone or video (telehealth).
Let a staff member know as soon as possible if you need to use an interpreter, because it can take time to arrange one.
When you are in hospital, it's a good idea to have a key support person who can provide practical and emotional support to you at any time. We will note this person in your care plan.
Your support person will be welcome, but not obliged, to be with you to:
- participate in clinical conversations and family meetings
- participate in clinical handovers
- help with basic/essential care needs (in agreement with staff)
- support you with decision making
- help with the transition back to your home.
If you have any concerns about your care, talk to a staff member. If you cannot resolve your concern, you can contact the Nationwide Health and Disability Advocacy Service to receive free assistance.
Health and Disability Advocacy Service
Our Paimarie facility offers comfortable temporary accommodation for patients' whānau and support people who are from out of town.
Space is limited so contact us as soon as possible. To book, call 0800 768 537 between 9am to 4pm, Monday to Friday. Talk to the duty manager at the hospital's front reception if enquiring after hours, or on weekends and public holidays.
- Cost: $40 per unit per night
- Check in: 2:30pm
- Check out: 11am
To ask about a patient you can contact us on:
- phone: 07 348 1199
You will need to tell us the full name of the patient and the ward they are in, if you know this.
For privacy reasons, we can only provide basic information about their location and condition.
You can ask to be put through to the patient's ward if you would like speak to a member of their care team.
Our hospital is a Smokefree environment and workplace. This means smoking and vaping is not allowed in any building or the surrounding grounds.
If you want to stop smoking, help and advice is available.
Contact the Manaaki Ora stop-smoking service:
- phone 0800 348 2400
- visit their website Maanaki Ora
Our staff can refer you, whānau, visitors and friends.
Free quit-smoking support and information is also available through: