Auckland Spinal Rehabilitation Unit (ASRU)

30 Bairds Road, Papatoetoe, Auckland

Contact Details

Phone (09) 270 9000 or 0800 774 642

Street Address

30 Bairds Road
Papatoetoe
Auckland
Auckland 2025

Postal Address

Correspondence to:
Private Bag 93319
Ōtāhuhu
Auckland 1640
or: ASRUSchedulingTeam@middlemore.co.nz

Description

The Auckland Spinal Rehabilitation Unit (ASRU) is a supra-regional spinal injury rehabilitation service which provides comprehensive, interdisciplinary rehabilitation care for people with spinal cord impairment from the central North Island to the Far North.

ASRU is part of Counties Manukau Health and is located at 30 Bairds Road in South Auckland in close proximity to Middlemore Hospital.

ASRU is one of only two supra-regional spinal cord rehabilitation services in New Zealand, the other service being Burwood Spinal Unit at Burwood Hospital in Christchurch.

Our catchment area's southern border extends from Taumarunui, Tūrangi and across to Wairoa/Gisborne. 

The inpatient unit consists of 20 beds dedicated to short term spinal cord rehabilitation for patients aged 15 and older who have sustained neurological deficits from a spinal cord injury due to trauma/injury or illness.  For more information, see Inpatient Service.

The outpatient service offers lifelong support for clients living in the ASRU supra-regional catchment area.  Patients are either reviewed at the Auckland Spinal Rehabilitation Unit in Auckland or at an Outreach Clinic in their local region. For more information, see Outpatient Service.

SPECIAL NOTICE


OUTPATIENT APPOINTMENTS
If you have an outpatient appointment (where you have an appointment to see a doctor, nurse or therapist) you will need to sign in at ASRU reception for contact tracing and clearly show your visitor’s sticker.

If you are feeling unwell, please stay at home and call to reschedule your appointment.

 

Useful links and Contact Information

 

New Zealand Spinal Cord Injury Registry (NZSCIR) 

The role of the New Zealand Spinal Cord Injury Registry

  • The NZSCIR collects information about people who have had a Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) to help improve our understanding of SCI in NZ. This can help improve how we support people with an SCI; how we prevent SCI; and how we can prevent SCI related medical complications.
  • This nationwide registry covers participants with either traumatic or non-traumatic SCI from both supra-regional spinal services in NZ (Auckland and Christchurch).
  • A range of information is collected including age, gender, ethnicity, basic SCI data and where treatment was received. If consent is given, we add details about participants’ treatment, complications, rehabilitation, and medical conditions.
  • We follow consenting participants to see how SCI affects those in the community and what services are needed to ensure ongoing community participation.

Further information

You can join the registry or find more information, reports and our contact details on the NZ Spinal Trust Website www.nzspinaltrust.org.nz

Spinal Consultants

Urology Consultants

Referral Expectations

Auckland Spinal Rehabilitation Unit (ASRU) accepts referrals from services throughout our catchment; the southern border extends from Taumarunui, Tūrangi and across to Wairoa (Gisborne).  Clients must have a neurological deficit as a result of damage to the spinal cord through injury, illness or congenital condition to meet the criteria for ASRU services.

ASRU Inpatient Admission Criteria:

  • 15 years and older; 14 years on a case-by-case basis
  • Traumatic and Non-traumatic Spinal Cord Impairment
  • Medically able to participate in up to 3 hours of rehabilitation treatment per day, 5 days per week
  • Willing to participate in up to 3 hours of rehabilitation treatment per day, 5 days per week
  • Cognitively able to actively participate in rehabilitation (follows 50% of commands)

Investigations and surgical treatments complete.

  • Cancer related SCI criteria for admission:
    • Cancer treatment complete
    • Prognosis greater than 6 months, per oncologist/radiation oncologist
    • Patient and family aware of diagnosis and prognosis
    • Medically able to participate in Rehab
    • Will have appropriate discharge destination and supports
    • Chooses to be admitted to ASRU with understanding that a safe and supported discharge, rather than maximal return of function, is the goal.
    • We recognise that Cancer related SCI Rehabilitation may have interruptions due to medical concerns and occasional brief interruptions for investigations and brief treatment, thus the “3 hour per day, 5 days per week” rule does not apply.
    • For those who do not meet criteria for ASRU admission, the ASRU team can assist in the management of SCI related concerns through recommendations regarding equipment and care.
  • Acute or chronic wound care only is not considered criteria for inpatient SCI rehabilitation. Bedrest is not inpatient SCI rehabilitation. Remobilisation through inpatient rehabilitation for a person with SCI, once the wound is healed/near healed (whether post-surgical intervention or healing by secondary intent) will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
  • Inpatient ASRU admission for people with SCI after acute medical or surgical hospitalisations will be considered on a case-by-case basis

There are several different ways to refer to our services for an inpatient admission - click here for details.

Hours

8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

Mon – Fri 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Services Provided

How to refer to our Inpatient Service
Outpatient Service
Urology Service
Dietetic Service
Nursing
Occupational Therapy
Physiotherapy
Social Work
Resources & Links
Spinal Support

Visiting Hours

Our priority is to keep our patients safe. 

We need to manage the number of people coming to our hospitals and other sites.

Whaanau wishing to visit a patient on compassionate grounds will need to contact the nurse in charge of the shift in advance.

Thank you for your support as we work to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Visiting Hours are : 1100 to 2000 daily

Travel Directions

FROM: Middlemore Hospital (MMH) to Auckland Spinal Rehab Unit (ASRU)

  • Turn right out of MMH and continue on HOSPITAL ROAD.
  • Turn Right at lights onto Māngere ROAD, Ōtāhuhu
  • Turn Right GREAT SOUTH ROAD, Ōtāhuhu
  • Turn Left BAIRDS ROAD, Ōtara
  • End: Turn left into Auckland Spinal Rehab Unit 30 BAIRDS ROAD Ōtara, AUCKLAND.

 

FROM North

  • Travel along SOUTHERN MOTORWAY
  • Bear Left at HIGHBROOK INTERCHANGE, Ōtara, EXIT NUMBER 443
  • Turn Right onto roundabout and follow the MIT, Ōtara sign.
  • Turn Right at the Bairds Rd lights and continue along the road to the Spinal Unit.
  • End: Turn right into Auckland Spinal Rehab Unit 30 BAIRDS ROAD Ōtara AUCKLAND.

Parking

Parking and disabled parking is available at both entrances to the spinal unit.  We ask that you do not park in the ambulance parking bay directly in front of the entrance to the ward.  It is preferable that you park behind the physiotherapy gym area. Please keep your car locked and do not leave any valuables in your car. There is a security guard on site during some hours, however Auckland Spinal Rehabilitation Unit is not responsible for stolen or lost property.

Other

Phone and Internet Facilities

  • Patients may make short, local phone calls using the ward phone.
  • WIFI available.

 

Local Shopping

  • Bairds Road Bakery
  • Coin Save
  • Domestic & Commercial Laundry
  • Mr Meats
  • Pizza Hut
  • Vege Oasis
  • Wheels Takeaways

Website

www.countiesmanukau.health.nz/

https://healthpoint.co.nz./public/spinal/auckland-spinal-rehabilitation-unit-asru/