During your stay at Braemar Hospital, you will be cared for by our experienced team, who work closely with your specialist to provide care tailored to your surgery or procedure.
Whether you are here for day surgery or staying with us for a while, our team will work alongside you to set daily goals and keep you informed about your progress.
We are committed to providing compassionate, personalised care, ensuring you feel comfortable, confident, and well supported every step of the way.
Following your procedure
Meals and Dietary Requirements
Te Tiriti O Waitangi, Cultural, Spiritual and Pastoral Support
After your procedure, you will return to your day stay recovery area, where you can rest and enjoy a light refreshment. Once you are feeling ready, you will be encouraged to get up, walk around, use the bathroom, and get dressed.
Before you leave, our team will provide you with information about your recovery, including any post-operative care instructions, symptoms to watch for, prescribed medications, and a medical certificate if required.
For your safety, it is essential that someone is ready to collect you, drive you home, and stay with you overnight following your procedure.
After your time in the Post Anaesthetic Care Unit (PACU), you will return to your room to continue your recovery. Our experienced nursing team will monitor your progress and provide care tailored to your procedure and individual needs. Our team will let you know when it is appropriate for you to begin eating and drinking following your procedure and you’ll have a choice of food to fit how you’re feeling.
As a part of our enhanced recovery programme, we encourage you to get up and about as soon as it is safe to do so. Once your specialist is happy for you to begin mobilising, our nurses and physiotherapists will guide and support you to get out of bed and start moving safely. Early mobilisation can support your breathing, circulation, strength, and overall recovery.
You may also be seen by one of our physiotherapists, who will provide guidance and support to help you begin your rehabilitation journey.
At Braemar, we are committed to providing exceptional care and supporting you throughout your recovery. If you need assistance, have any concerns, or feel unwell, please use your call bell to contact our team.
To help keep you safe and reduce the risk of falls, please ask for assistance before getting out of bed, especially when in the early recovery phase.
Some patients may require additional monitoring following surgery. Braemar Hospital’s five-bed Special Care Unit is staffed by highly skilled nurses with intensive care training and provides a higher level of observation and support when needed.
Your surgeon or anaesthetist may recommend a stay in the Special Care Unit following your procedure. If this is planned, it will be discussed with you before your admission and included in your estimate. Occasionally, a stay in the Special Care Unit may be required unexpectedly after surgery. If this occurs, we will keep you and your family informed and our Finance team will discuss any impact this may have on your invoice.
Having a Special Care Unit on-site allows us to continue providing your care at Braemar should closer monitoring become necessary during your recovery, ensuring you receive the appropriate level of support without needing to be transferred elsewhere.
We recognise the important role that family, whānau, and friends play in supporting recovery and wellbeing. Visitors are welcome during visiting hours from 11:00am to 8:00pm.
If you are staying in a shared room, we kindly ask that visitors are considerate of other patients who may be resting or recovering.
Braemar Hospital is a smoke-free and vape-free facility. If you need support while you are in hospital, nicotine replacement therapy is available. Please speak with one of our nurses, who can help you access the most appropriate option for you.
If you think it might be a good opportunity to quit smoking, follow this link for more information https://www.smokefree.org.nz/
Braemar Hospital is renowned for its restaurant-quality meals. Our Executive Chef and team prepare seasonal menus featuring fresh, nourishing food to support your recovery.
Please let us know about any dietary requirements or preferences on your pre-admission form or speak with your nurse during your stay. We can accommodate a wide range of dietary needs, and our chefs are happy to discuss options to ensure your meals meet your individual requirements.
If your procedure involves specific dietary restrictions, our staff can help you choose suitable menu options. We also offer a dedicated children’s menu for our younger patients.
Visitors are welcome to purchase meals to enjoy with you. Breakfast must be ordered the night before, lunch by 10.00am, and dinner by 3.00pm. Ordering information is available in your room, and our staff are happy to assist.
Free unlimited Wi-Fi is available throughout the hospital, so you can stay connected during your stay. You are welcome to bring your phone, tablet or laptop to watch your own personal entertainment apps. We recommend bringing chargers for any personal devices you plan to use during your stay.
All patient rooms are equipped with a television offering Freeview channels and Sky and Sky Sport.
For those who enjoy reading, complimentary copies of the Waikato Times are available daily, along with a selection of the latest magazines and a Braemar newsletter.
You will also find a small puzzle book on your bedside table to help pass the time during your stay.
At Braemar Hospital, we are committed to honouring the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and providing care that respects your cultural values, beliefs and identity. We welcome the involvement of your whānau in your care and encourage participation in discussions and decision-making to the extent that you feel comfortable.
If you would like time for karakia, prayer, or other cultural or spiritual practices during your stay, please let our team know. While we do not have dedicated cultural or pastoral support staff onsite, we are happy to support visits from your chosen kaumātua, chaplain, spiritual leader, or other cultural and community representatives. A quiet room is also available for prayer or reflection.
If you have a taonga that you would like to remain with you during your procedure and recovery, please talk with our team about how we can best keep these safe.
Our staff regularly undertake cultural safety training and are committed to providing respectful, inclusive care for all patients and their whānau. We value opportunities to learn, celebrate te reo Māori, and strengthen our understanding of Aotearoa New Zealand’s diverse cultures and communities.
Visitors providing cultural, spiritual, or pastoral support are welcome during our visiting hours of 11.00am to 8.00pm. If these visits are needed outside of visiting hours, please speak with the duty charge nurse.
At Braemar Hospital, we are committed to protecting your privacy and keeping your personal and health information secure. Your information is managed and stored in accordance with the Privacy Act 2020 and the Health Information Privacy Code.
The information you share with us is used to support your care and may be shared with healthcare providers involved in your treatment to help ensure safe, coordinated care. Following your procedure, a summary of your treatment will be sent to your GP to support your ongoing care.
Refer to our General Privacy Statement here.
Braemar Hospital is committed to upholding your rights under the Health and Disability Commissioner’s Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights.
We strive to provide care that is respectful, safe, and centred around you. This includes your right to:
Guided by our values and dedication to excellence, we work in partnership with you to ensure you feel informed, supported, and confident throughout your healthcare journey.
Learn more about your rights on the Health & Disability Commissioner (HDC) website: