Health

Waitaki District Health Services Ltd. manages a wide range of inpatient, outpatient, maternity and community-based services.

Oamaru Hospital
Our hospital provides inpatient care for acute and general medical cases, plus pre and post-operative transfers to/from base hospitals. The hospital has a four bed High Dependency Unit and seven single rooms. The Emergency Department provides a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week service for emergencies while rehabilitation services for the elderly are available at the Assessment Treatment and Rehabilitation Day Hospital. Radiology and physiotherapy services are also available and an extensive range of outpatient services is provided locally.

Community Services include Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, District Nursing, Medical, Social Work, Medical Laboratories, Outpatients Chemotherapy and various Public Health programmes.

For more information contact:
Oamaru Hospital
8 Steward Street, Oamaru
T: +64 3 433 0290
W: www.otagodhb.govt.nz.

Oamaru Maternity Centre
Located in a purpose built ward at the main hospital, Oamaru’s Maternity Centre has two birthing rooms, three postnatal rooms and two antenatal clinic rooms. Routine checks through pregnancy are available either at the centre or at home. Women are transferred to Dunedin or Timaru hospital if there are complications, a history of complications, or if Caesarean sections and intensive neonatal care are required and returned to Oamaru for postnatal care.

For more information contact:
Oamaru Maternity Centre
8 Steward Street, Oamaru
T: +64 3 433 0277 or +64 3 433 0269

Public Health Nurse
78 Ribble Street, Oamaru
T: +64 3 433 1163

Mental Health Services
The Waitaki Community Mental Health Service provides community-based support for people experiencing mental illness. This includes adult services, a child, adolescent and family mental health service and a community alcohol and drug service.

For more information contact:
Waitaki Community Mental Health Service
2 Trent Street, Oamaru
T: +64 3 434 8993

Public Health South
Te Waka Hauora delivers a range of services in the Waitaki District including health promotion, health protection, public health nursing and school dental services. Programs are aimed at preventing ill health, screening, regulatory activities (for example, liquor licensing, safe drinking water) and supporting local communities. Partnerships exist between Public Health South and many organizations in the area.

For more information contact:
Public Health South
57 Hanover St, Dunedin
T: +64 3 474 1700
W: www.phsouth.co.nz

Plunket North Otago
Plunket offers a range of services including well child clinics, parenting classes and a car seat rental scheme. The Plunket Rooms, on Severn Street, also house Parents as First Teachers staff and a Karitane Nurse. An active network of parents supports Plunket’s activities in North Otago with branches operating in the town and in various communities around the district.

For more information contact:
Plunket North Otago
Severn Street, Oamaru
T: +64 3 434 8437

Parents as First Teachers
T: +64 3 434 5004

Car Seat Rental Scheme
T: +64 3 434 6447

Dental Health
Oamaru is well serviced by dentists and dental hygienists with just under a dozen dental practitioners working in the district. Please check the New Zealand Telecom White Pages online for contact details.

Aged Care
Oamaru is a popular town for the elderly to live in, with easy access to health services and other amenities. There are six rest homes in Oamaru and one at Totara which collectively offer both short and long-term residential care, ownership villas, palliative care, respite care and hospital level care. Kurow also has a rest home. Home based care services are also available from providers based in Oamaru.

Community services include: Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, District Nursing, Medical Social Work, Medical Laboratories, Outpatients Chemotherapy and various Public Health programmes.

The Waitaki Community Mental Health Service provides community-based support for people experiencing mental illness. This includes adult services, a child, adolescent and family mental health service and a community alcohol and drug service.
Public Health South (Te Waka Hauora) delivers a range of services in the district including health promotion, health protection, public health nursing and school dental services. Programmes are aimed at preventing ill health, screening, regulatory activities (for example, liquor licensing, safe drinking water) and supporting local communities. Partnerships exist between Public Health South and many organisations in the area.

Oamaru is also a popular town to retire in due to easy access health services and other amenities. There are six rest homes in Oamaru and one at Totara which collectively offer both short and long-term residential care, ownership villas, palliative care, respite care and hospital level care for elderly people. Kurow also has a rest home.

Oamaru is well serviced by dentists and dental hygienists with just under a dozen general practitioners working from five practices in the town.