After discharge
To assist your recovery, it is important that you follow your specialist’s discharge, medication and rehabilitation instructions. If you have any questions or concerns about these, please contact your specialist.
We strongly recommend you have someone stay with you for at least the first 24 hours after you return home and get enough assistance so you can recuperate.
If you become unwell
Contact your specialist, GP or accident/emergency service immediately if you become unwell and/or develop any of the following signs or symptoms
- Sudden shortness of breath and/or pain in your chest
- Coughing up blood-streaked mucus
- Raised temperature (fever) or chills
- Excessive bleeding or wound ooze
- Increased pain, redness or swelling in or around the wound
- Nausea or vomiting
- Redness, pain, swelling or tenderness in your leg
- Any other signs, symptoms or issues that are of concern to you or your whānau.
If in doubt, or in the event of an emergency, call an ambulance immediately (111).
Your feedback
Southern Cross Central Lakes Hospital welcomes all feedback as a means of confirming what we do well and identifying areas where we can improve. We appreciate your input and aim to deal with feedback respectfully, fairly and promptly.
There are a number of ways you can provide feedback. For more information refer to our Patient Information Complaints and Concerns brochure.
Share with us directly
We’ll always do our best to listen and learn from what you tell us. Complaints and compliments can be made direct to the hospital in person, by phone or email. Alternatively you can digitally submit comments via the Southern Cross Healthcare consumer feedback form.
Our Patient Engagement Survey
Around two weeks after your discharge you should receive our Patient Engagement Survey. Depending on your comments, it can typically be completed in three minutes. This survey is administered by a third party and your feedback is anonymous unless you indicate you would like us to contact you.
This valuable information allows us to measure the patient experience of our care, environment and amenities. Negative feedback will be investigated.
Formal complaints to the Health and Disability Commissioner
If you are unhappy about the care you or a loved one has received at Southern Cross Central Lakes Hospital, we encourage you to communicate with us direct in the first instance, as our team welcome the opportunity to learn and improve. You also have the right to make a formal complaint to the Health and Disability Commissioner.
The purpose of the Health and Disability Commissioner is to promote and protect the rights of consumers as set out in the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights. You can learn more about their complaints process at Making a complaint - Health and Disability Commissioner.
Health and Disability Commissioner Advocacy Service
If you feel uncomfortable making a complaint direct to your healthcare provider, or would like some support or guidance, an advocate service is available free through the Health and Disability Commissioner.
Independent advocates can help you understand your rights, talk through your options, and support you through the process.