Answers to Common Questions

All patients and their families have rights governed by the Health and Disability Commissioners Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights Regulation 1996. Auckland Radiation Oncology is committed to delivering your care in accordance with this. More detail on these regulations can be found at www.hdc.org.nz including a translation of these rights into several languages.

To facilitate safe and effective delivery of treatment, positioning and holding methods will be used. Lifts and wheelchairs are available for those patients who require them.

The Patient Health History form includes questions relating to your physical status. Please let us know if you need extra assistance so that we can plan your care safely.

Having a friend or relative with you during your treatment can provide a great deal of comfort and support. We understand just how important this is, and welcome you to have someone with you wherever possible. We make every effort to care not only for you, but also your support people and family/whanau. From welcoming them into ARO, to providing them with the information they need, we will help them to play a full role in your treatment journey.

If you have a larger support group, of more than 2 people, we ask that you call us ahead of time, as there is limited seating at ARO and we’d like to ensure that everyone is as comfortable as possible.

Under most circumstances there is no problem with driving yourself to and from treatment appointments. Your radiation oncologist will advise you if it’s unwise to do so.

To ensure the health and safety of our employees and patients, and in accordance with the Smoke-free environment act, Auckland Radiation Oncology is smoke free.

No, the radiation you receive is electrically generated and is similar to having an x-ray. Small doses of radiation are administered daily over a period ranging from several days to several weeks. Your body does not continue to hold the radiation after the daily therapy session ends. You may continue to have normal contact with others.

Your specialist team, which could consist of your surgeon, medical oncologist and radiation oncologist, will continue to see you in follow-up appointments for the weeks, months and years following your course of radiation therapy. They will take careful note of your condition, using clinical examinations and diagnostic tests, to determine how well you are doing. At some point they will either discharge you from their care or offer you further treatment options, depending on your progress.

This is possible under some circumstances and depends on whether or not we are treating the same area as previously and what the total dose was to that area. This would be discussed with you by your radiation oncologist should the need arise.

We will provide you with an indication of the costs of your radiation therapy once we have received detail of your expected treatment course.

In most cases we will facilitate the prior approval of your radiation treatment directly with your health insurance provider.

If you are a self-paying patient, prior to starting radiation therapy you will be required to pay the estimated cost of treatment in full. Eftpos, Mastercard and Visa credit card facilities are accepted. We’re unable to give change for cash payments as we do not hold cash on site.

There is important parking information for patients about ARO Epsom and ARO North Shore on the Location & Parking page on our website, including maps and how to find us.

ARO Epsom, 98 Mountain Road, Epsom

Parking at ARO is free with validation. From Monday 21 July there are new designated ARO parking spaces for patients to use. To ensure your parking is free, ARO must validate your vehicle — please have your licence plate number ready to enter into the iPad kiosk located at our reception.

1.  ARO Patient Car Park – via Gate 5 (Almorah Road) - Enter through Gate 5 (Specialist Centre entrance) on Almorah Road. Drive straight ahead and up the ramp to the second level. At the top of the ramp, you will find designated ARO patient parking. Enter the building by going past Awanui Labs and through the double glass doors, and then turn left. ARO is directly ahead of you along the corridor.

2.  Allevia Hospital Car Park – via Gate 1 (98 Mountain Road) - If ARO patient parks are full, enter through Gate 1 (Allevia Hospital Main Entrance) on Mountain Road. Park in any undesignated space on Level 1. From the carpark, use the Level 1 entry into the hospital. Turn right immediately after entering the first set of doors. ARO is directly ahead of you at the top of the small flight of stairs.

3.  Street Parking (No Validation Required) - Free 120-minute street parking is available on Mountain Road, Gilgit Road, and Almorah Road. No validation is required for street parking.

Important:

• Do not enter your licence plate into any parking machines — this will incur a charge we cannot cancel.
• Allow up to 30 minutes to find parking before your appointment. Parking is very limited across the Allevia Hospital campus, especially between 10 am and 2 pm, Tuesday to Thursday.
• ARO-designated spaces are reserved for patients, but availability can vary.

ARO North Shore, 6 Antares Place, Rosedale

Parking at ARO North Shore is free and there are three patient parking locations:

1.  Outdoor Patient Parking - Multiple parks near the front entrance accessed through the first or second entrance off Antares Place.

2.  Outdoor Accessible Parking - Two designated parks near the front entrance accessed through the first or second entrance off Antares Place.

3.  Underground Parking - Undercover basement parking, accessed using the first entrance from Antares Place, driving along the side driveway and down the ramp leading underground. This parking is recommended for patients in wet weather or if an ARO wheelchair is required which are located in the far right hand corner of the carpark near the basement lift. Go through the glass doors and foyer to the lift, select G Reception to the main ARO reception on the ground floor.