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.

Free parking is available onsite in the Mercy Hospital carpark building for ARO patients.

The Mercy Hospital car park is through the main entrance off Mountain Road and you may park in any undesignated or ARO designated car park on level 1. To be eligible for free parking, you must provide your vehicle registration number at the ARO reception, so your parking can be validated.

Please do not enter your licence plate number into the parking machine in the carpark, as you will be charged. The Mercy Hospital parking is managed by a separate company, and a fine may be issued if your vehicle breaches any of the parking terms and conditions. Free parking (120 minutes) is also available nearby on Mountain Road, Gilgit Road and Almorah Road.