Waikato District Health Board
Waikato District Health Board provide hospital, health and disability services to the more than 391,770 people, either directly or by funding and contracting other providers.
Waikato District Health Board employs more than 6000 people.
They cover a large geographical area in the upper central North Island of New Zealand, known as the Waikato. Its corporate office and tertiary hospital are in Hamilton city.
This includes a tertiary hospital, a secondary hospital, three rural hospitals and it also offers a wide range of community-based and health promotion services.
They provide tertiary services (such as neurosurgery and other highly complex surgery, specialised medical procedures and specialist trauma services) to a Midland health region population of more than 846,600.
Waikato Hospital – is a tertiary, teaching hospital that provides all hospital services (with the exception of organ transplants), plus clinical diagnostic and support services including radiology, laboratory and pharmacy. It provides tertiary services for the Midland region comprising district health boards of Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Lakes, Tairawhiti and Taranaki.
The hospital has 600 inpatient beds, 22 operating theatres and a dedicated outpatient clinic and procedure centre.
All diagnostic and treatment facilities are on one large campus called Waiora Waikato Hospital Campus in Hamilton which is central location within the tertiary region, with road and air ambulance support.
It is a teaching hospital with links to Auckland University. The campus includes an education centre with excellent library, and a clinical skills centre with a clinical simulation suite
It offers research opportunities and many specialties have their own research unit.
Since 2005 an extensive redevelopment programme has resulted in a number of new clinical buildings including an emergency and acute medical block, a large clinical centre, and an older persons and rehabilitation facility – as well as refurbished laboratory, wards, delivery suite and extended newborn intensive care facility.
Thames Hospital – is a secondary level hospital that serves the Thames, Coromandel Peninsula, Hauraki and Paeroa areas.
It offers 24 hour emergency department, and covers the usual range of general surgery and general medicine. More specialised services are offered through outreach services using Waikato Hospital specialists, or patients are sent to Waikato Hospital, which is about 1.5 hours away by car.
It is a modern hospital that has had significant upgrading of facilities from 2005 to 2009, including a new clinical centre with Emergency Department, radiology and outpatient clinics, plus a new inpatient (ward) area with a High Acuity Unit for cases that require more intensive monitoring and treatment.
Lifestyle
The region stretches from Coromandel Peninsula in the north, to the north-eastern slopes of Mount Ruapehu in the south, and spans the North Island from the west coast, through the Waikato and Hauraki to Coromandel Peninsula on the east coast.
Waikato Region is the fourth largest region in the country in area and population. It has an area of 25,000 km² and a population of 430,800 (June 2014 estimate).
Situated in the heart of the North Island the diverse Hamilton & Waikato region encompasses New Zealand’s fourth largest city, the country’s longest river, Hobbiton Movie Set, and the world famous Waitomo Caves with its glowworms and adventure tourism activities. Well-known for its nature-based tourism, underground adventure and off-the-beaten track experiences the Hamilton & Waikato region offers something for every traveller, from the stunning black sand surf beaches of Raglan to Hamilton’s vibrant café scene and the rolling hills and majestic forests that shape the landscape.
At the heart of the Hamilton & Waikato region are its towns and main city of Hamilton, one of New Zealand’s fastest growing and most vibrant cities. All come with great shops and galleries, fantastic eateries with top events and visitor attractions to match
The largest city in the Waikato Region is Hamilton, with an urban and peri-urban population of 184,000 (June 2014 estimate). It is home to the University of Waikato and the Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec).
The Hamilton & Waikato Region’s proximity to other destinations makes it the perfect base for exploring the central north island. From Rotorua’s thermal attractions and trout fishing at Taupo or skiing on Mt Ruapehu, to the white sand beaches of the Coromandel and Bay of Plenty and the many charms of Auckland, Hamilton city provides the gateway to some of New Zealand’s top tourist locations