Providing care beyond the Rotorua region

Southern Cross Rotorua Hospital provides quality, professional care to thousands of patients each year. Tucked away down a long driveway in suburban Springfield, the hospital offers a range of services, including orthopaedics, general surgery, urology, otolaryngology, gynaecological surgery, and endoscopy.

This year, the hospital is set to provide are for more than 3,000 patients from the Bay of Plenty, Waikato, Taupo and Tairawhiti regions.

“We have a huge catchment area,” say Southern Cross Rotorua Hospital General Manager Stephanie Thomson.

Thomson says there is a strong focus not only on privately insured or self-funded patients, but also on caring for patients referred from public health services.

“About half of our patients come to us from either ACC or Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora, meaning we are truly delivering surgical care in Rotorua for a broad section of the community,” she says.

“This is significant, as it increases access to surgery for our local community and means the patients do not need to travel out of the city for treatment.”

While Southern Cross Rotorua Hospital does not offer accident and emergency care – that is done by the team at Rotorua Hospital – it gives people the option to have their elective surgery in their own community.

“Having friends and whanau by your side when you’re going through a surgical procedure is so important,” says Thomson, who is also a nurse practitioner and former critical care registered nurse.

As part of the Southern Cross Healthcare network – the largest independent healthcare organisation in Aotearoa – Southern Cross Rotorua Hospital also treats patients referred to the Southern Cross Charitable Surgery Programme.

Last year, 19 children from the Gisborne district received surgery at its hospital, primarily for grommets and adenoid removal, through this programme which is funded by the Southern Cross Health Trust.

As an additional layer of support, Southern Cross Rotorua Hospital is in the process establishing the Kaimahi Māori Cultural Support Service which provides wraparound tautoko for Māori patients and whanau.

“Our hospital is a welcoming place for everyone, including staff, patients and whanau,” says Thomson.

“We have a team of more than 90 staff and we have world renowned surgeons operating right here in Rotorua, who love our hospital environment and appreciate the culture.

“I am proud of the amazing care that our people and our team of specialists offer and the results they drive in the health and wellbeing of our patients.”

Anyone needing surgery and wishing to explore the option of receiving treatment close to home at Southern Cross Rotorua Hospital is encourage to speak with their GP to ask for an appropriate referral.

Southern Cross Rotorua Hospital is located at 58 Otonga Road, Springfield, Rotorua.