Infection services — Wellington, Hutt and Kapiti

We provide a comprehensive infection service dedicated to preventing and managing complex infections for people in Wellington, Hutt and Kapiti.

On this page

Contact us

To contact the infection services department:

For information about our HIV service:

Where to find us

The infection services department is based at Wellington Regional Hospital.

Street address:

Wellington Regional Hospital
49 Riddiford Street
Newtown
Wellington 6021

Wellington Regional Hospital — Google Maps (external link)

Services we provide

Clinical infectious diseases

We provide specialist advice on diagnosis and management of a wide variety of infections both within the hospital and in the Wellington, Hutt and Kapiti area.

We see people with:

  • infections after surgery
  • infections in immunocompromised people (such as people having chemotherapy, immunotherapy or after an organ or bone marrow transplant)
  • HIV infection
  • tuberculosis
  • travel-associated infections such as malaria, dengue and typhoid
  • complex community infections.

Complex outpatient antibiotic therapy (COPAT)

We provide integrated care from hospital to the home for those needing prolonged intravenous or oral antibiotic therapy for complex infections.

The COPAT team includes:

  • infectious diseases specialists
  • infectious diseases registrars
  • antimicrobial pharmacist
  • community health nurses.

HIV service

We have a dedicated team of HIV-trained physicians and a clinical nurse specialist who provide a free, confidential service to adults affected by HIV.

This team works with people and those involved with their care to:

  • educate about HIV infection
  • help people understand how best to take their medications
  • provide a link between specialists and primary health care
  • connect people with ongoing support services where needed.

Antimicrobial stewardship

The antimicrobial stewardship team provides support to antimicrobial prescribers throughout the hospital. Integral to the team is the antimicrobial pharmacist. We also provide education and support for community prescribers where possible.

Infection prevention and control

The infection prevention and control team includes specialists with nursing, infectious diseases and microbiology backgrounds.

The team aim to:

  • ensure a safe working environment across the healthcare services in hospitals and the community
  • minimises the risk of infection to inpatients, outpatients, staff and visitors.

We provide support for aged and residential care facilities across the region. We work closely with regional public health on infections with public health risk, including outbreak and pandemic management.

What to expect at your appointment

Open all

If your healthcare provider or hospital specialist feels you require an urgent assessment for an infectious disease problem, they will discuss this with one of the infectious diseases doctors.

One of the infectious diseases doctors will ask you some questions and examine you. We will usually need to do some tests such as:

  • blood or urine tests
  • x-rays.

During your hospital stay, the doctors looking after you will carefully explain what they think is causing your illness and what tests and treatment you will require. You will be able to ask questions at any time during your stay.

When you leave hospital your healthcare provider will receive a letter informing them of your diagnosis and what further tests, treatment and follow up will be required.

You may need to be seen by the infectious diseases service in the outpatient clinic following your discharge from hospital.

If your healthcare provider feels you need a non-urgent assessment you will be referred to our outpatient clinic. An appointment will be scheduled for you with one of our doctors and a letter with appointment details will be sent to you.

When you come to your appointment, please bring:

  • a list of the medications you are taking
  • any x-rays or other medical information normally kept at home that may be relevant to this appointment (you do not need to seek this information from your healthcare provider or other doctors).

At your appointment, one of the doctors will ask you some questions and examine you. We will usually need to do some tests such as blood or urine tests and x-rays.

The doctor will explain what they think is causing your illness and whether you require further tests or treatment. You will be able to ask any questions you have at this time. You may need to be seen again in the infectious diseases clinic for further review.

Your healthcare provider will receive a letter informing them of your diagnosis and what further tests, treatment and follow up will be required.

Referral information

A referral for this service must come from a healthcare provider.