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Emergency department (ED)

Taranaki Base Hospital has a 24-hour emergency department. It is accessible from Gate 1, David Street and is located next to the main hospital entrance.

For critical or life-threatening emergencies go to the emergency department or dial 111.

If you are not sure how serious the problem is, call Healthline at any time for advice on 0800 611 116.

When to go to ED

After hours and urgent medical care

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.

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MediCross urgent care and GP clinic is at:

8 Egmont St
New Plymouth
Taranaki 4310

Phone: 06 759 8915

Opening hours: 8am to 8pm, every day.

MediCross Urgent Care and GP clinic — Healthpoint

Carefirst Westown Medical Centre is at:

99 Tukapa St
Westown
New Plymouth
Taranaki 4310

Phone: 06 753 9505

Opening hours: 8:30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

You do not need to be enrolled with Carefirst to access urgent care.

Carefirst Urgent Care clinic — Healthpoint

Contact

For general enquiries, call 06 753 6139

For the call centre:

If the phone is not answered, leave a message and we will contact you within 7 working days.

Postal address:

23 David Street
Westown
New Plymouth 4310

Visiting hours

Visiting hours are generally 2pm to 8pm 7 days a week. 

There may be reasons you would like to visit outside of these hours. Special arrangements can be made with the charge nurse if you are visiting children, seriously ill or terminally ill patients.

Talk to the ward staff if you have questions about your visit.

How to get to Taranaki Base Hospital

Taranaki Base Hospital is at:

23 David Street
Westown
New Plymouth
Taranaki 4310

There are 4 entrances (gates) to Taranaki Base Hospital.

Enter Gate 1 on David Street for:

  • maternity
  • outpatients
  • emergency department
  • drop offs at the main entrance
  • disability parking.

Enter Gate 2 on Tukapa Street for:

  • child and adolescent community centre (CACC)
  • medical/oncology outpatients
  • cancer coordination centre
  • drug and alcohol
  • older people’s health
  • mental health services.

Gate 3 on Lorna Street is for building work.

Enter Gate 4 on Lyn Street for:

  • main hospital public car park
  • some construction vehicles.

Bus

Route 3 — Lynmouth/Marfell stops at:

  • main hospital entrance
  • antenatal clinic.

Route 3 — Taranaki Regional Councilexternal link

Connector hospital bus

The Hāwera-New Plymouth Connector operates Monday to Friday.

Information on the timetable, fare and route — Taranaki regional councilexternal link

Coastal Community Transport service

This free service is for coastal Taranaki residents needing to get to essential appointments such as social service, medical or hospital appointments in New Plymouth, Stratford or Hāwera.

Eligibility criteria apply.

Phone: 0800 223 390

National Travel Assistance

The National Travel Assistance Scheme helps people who need to travel long distances or travel frequently for health appointments.

National Travel Assistance

Parking

There is public parking at Taranaki Base Hospital.

Access the main car park through Gate 4 on Lyn Street.

  • Patient and visitor parking areas are marked with blue lines.
  • Patients, visitors and staff can all use parking areas marked with white lines.
  • Only staff can use the carpooling parks marked with green lines.
  • Specified parent parking is available next to the antenatal clinic and outside the child and adolescent community centre (CACC).

Taranaki Base Hospital parking mapPDF93 KB

Mobility drop-off zone

There are mobility vehicle drop off zones for patients and visitors at:

  • the Tukapa Street entrance
  • the main hospital entrance on David Street.

Mobility parking

There are designated parking spaces for people with mobility parking passes. These are the dark blue parks on our parking map.

Taranaki Base Hospital mobility parking mapPDF98 KB

Access from the main public car park is from a ramped walkway which has a gradual gradient, landings and handrails on both sides.

Patient and visitor information

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The hospital and grounds are all smoke and vape free areas.

Wheelchairs

  • Wheelchairs are located at the main and maternity entrance. If you need a wheelchair and none are available, please ask a volunteer or receptionist.
  • Outside of office hours, please use the telephone adjacent to reception to phone the operator on “0” and an orderly will be arranged to assist you.

Volunteers

Meet and greet volunteers are available at the main hospital and maternity entrances.

Hours: Monday to Fridays 9am to 11:30am and 1pm to 3pm.

Lifts

Ask at the front entrance reception desk if you need help with using the lifts.

Accessible toilets

Accessible toilets are available 24/7 and others are open during business hours only. Accessible toilets are also located within The Acute Services Block wards for patients and ward visitors.

Locations of accessible toiletsPDF124 KB

Acute services block

The medical, surgical, orthopaedic and rehabilitation wards have been built to improve the experience and independence of people with disabilities. 

  • All wards have some larger single rooms with ensuites and space for your mobility equipment.
  • Four bedrooms have an ensuite plus a separate toilet.
  • Ensuites are accessible with level access showers and handrails.
  • Status boards in patients’ rooms to identify patient’s needs.
  • Some rooms are equipped with ceiling hoists.
  • Handrails are in the corridors.
    Spacious whānau rooms are in each ward with tea/coffee making facilities.

Friends of the emergency department 

If you are in the Emergency Department volunteers can help you with non-medical needs from 10am to 10pm.

Dining 

Wheelchair accessible dining facilities are available in the cafes. If you need help please ask at the counter.

Companion dogs

Trained companion dogs are welcome in the hospital.

NZSL interpreters

Please let us know in advance if you require this service. Local sign language communicators can be arranged.

If a qualified Sign language interpreter is needed we can offer:

  • Video Remote Interpreting (VRI).  This service accesses a qualified sign language interpreter via Skype. Please let us know if you require this service and we can make a booking for you.
  • the services of a face-to-face sign language interpreter if this is required.

We can add your preferred choice of interpreter to your medical record so that staff are aware of your needs.

Hearing device

You can request the Amigo hearing device for your appointment. The Amigo consists of a small microphone worn by a health professional and a set of discreet headphones worn by you.

Call the service before your appointment to book this equipment.

Let our staff know if you need a language interpreter. They can assist with booking an interpreter for your appointment using the Ezispeak interpreting service.

Pou Hāpai service

Our service offers:

  • patient and whānau support
  • cultural support
  • short-term accommodation (whaiora) bookings
  • after-hours support.

Contact the service on:

The violence intervention programme helps people in hospital who are experiencing or have been exposed to family violence. 

Contact the family violence intervention coordinator on:

Contact the child protection coordinator on:

Facilities

Pharmacy

The hospital pharmacy is located on the first floor in the main corridor. It provides inpatient service only.

Opening hours:

  • Monday to Friday: 8am to 5pm
  • Weekends: 9:30am to 11:30am.
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Café

A café is located on Level 1.

Whaiora short-stay accommodation

Whaiora offers temporary accommodation for whānau visiting patients in hospital. 

Priority is given to whānau from outside the Hāwera area.

The accommodation has room for 12 people.

For more information, call the Māori Health Unit on 06 278 7109 — extension 6707.

Front desk

The front desk in the main hospital entrance is staffed between 8am to 4:30pm.

After hours, use the phone on the wall and call 'O' for operator assistance.

Free Wi-Fi

Free Wi-Fi is available.

Look for 'FreePrimoHotspot' in the Wi-Fi settings on your device.

Spirituality

Chaplains

The Chaplaincy service provides pastoral and spiritual care.

A chaplain is available 24-hours-a-day. Ask a staff member to contact us. 

Chaplains are also available on request for prayer, holy communion, anointing and baptism (in emergency).

Chapel

The Chapel of the Good Shepherd is located on Level 2 on the same corridor as outpatients and maternity as you head away from the main wards.

It is open 24 hours a day and is available for you to visit, reflect, pray and relax in a quiet environment.

Services

An Ecumenical Service with communion is held in the hospital chapel every Sunday from 11 to 11:30am. 

Catholic Mass is held on the first Saturday of the month at 11am.

Breastfeeding and baby change area

Breastfeeding and baby change areas are available in:

  • antenatal clinic
  • mental health outpatients
  • mothers' quiet room and the postnatal lounge located in ward 15
  • parent zone, located in the main corridor near outpatients.

Departments and services

Asthma education Audiology Cardiology Child and adolescent community centre Children's ward 2B — Taranaki Base Hospital Dental health services Diabetes clinic District nurses Gastroenterology General medical wards 4A and 4B Laboratory services Maternity and newborn services Mental health and addiction services Occupational therapy service Older people's health and rehabilitation
Oncology Orthopaedic Orthopaedics and surgical specialties ward 3B Outpatients — surgical and medical Podiatry Public health nurses Physiotherapy services Radiology Renal unit Social work Speech and language therapy Surgery and urology ward 3A Surgical day ward Vision and hearing

Taranaki Base Hospital map

Taranaki Base Hospital - Department mapPDF104 KB

Project Maunga — Taranaki Base Hospital redevelopment

Taranaki Base Hospital is currently going through redevelopment. This involves building a new East Wing with upgraded facilities.

Project Maunga — Taranaki Base Hospital Redevelopmentexternal link

Your stay in hospital

Preparing for a hospital stay

What your hospital appointment letter or email should tell you, what to know before your stay and what to bring, what to do when you arrive, and information if you are having surgery.

Your stay in hospital

The staff and services in hospital are there to help you and your whānau during your stay. The more you know about what to expect, the more you can relax and focus on your health and recovery.

Leaving hospital

Leaving hospital (hospital discharge) will be discussed with you during your hospital stay. It is important for your recovery that your discharge happens quickly when you no longer need hospital care.