Te Whare Ahuru inpatient unit

You can contact Te Whare Ahuru on:

• phone 04 566 6999

The service is located at:

Hutt Hospital
638 High Street
Lower Hutt

See the map of Hutt Hospital — we are located opposite the emergency department.

Map of Hutt Hospital

Car parking is available.

The service is for people who live in the Hutt Valley, but we sometimes admit people from Wairarapa and the wider Wellington region.

Our services and support include:

• occupational therapy to help engage you in everyday activities, paid or volunteer work, and outside interests and activities
• mental health nurses to help with your medication, advocacy and assessment
• mental health support workers who focus on your comfort and personal needs
• psychiatrists who can prescribe medication, if it is the best option for you.

Our social workers can provide:

• talking therapy
• support with families
• education about your recovery, health and wellbeing
• support with using social services
• help connecting you with your community.

The focus of your stay is on your recovery and return to your usual life, with community support if needed. We work to provide you with a high standard in clinical care in a respectful, supportive and safe environment.

What to expect during your stay

When you arrive at Te Whare Ahuru, you will be introduced to your care team. The team usually includes a psychiatrist and nursing staff.

They will be your main carers during your stay. Treatment and care is also provided by a wider team of trained professionals.

There are a range of professional and support staff who work at the unit. Staff wear identification badges and you can ask them more about their role in the unit.

Information for whānau

Having a whānau member or friend in hospital can be worrying and stressful. Staff can give you information about mental health conditions and the treatment options the unit has to offer. We can also refer you to other organisations for information and support.

Visiting the unit

Visiting hours are between 2:30pm to 8pm. You need to call ahead to book, as there is limited availability of the family visiting room. Staff may ask that a patient has a maximum of 2 visitors at once.

We encourage visits by whānau or friends. Maintaining social contacts can play a positive role in people’s recovery.

You must not take photos or recordings of the ward or patients. Client privacy is important.

Te Whare Ahuru is a smokefree environment. You cannot not smoke anywhere in the ward.

Tamariki under 16 may visit certain areas of the ward. They must be supervised by an adult (not the patient) at all times.

Do not bring these items into the ward:

• plastic bags
• glass or anything sharp
• alcohol and illegal drugs
• medications.

Staff will check all items coming into the ward for safety.

Referrals to Te Whare Ahuru can only be made through our specialist mental health and addiction services only.