The Henry Rongomau Bennett Centre provides inpatient care for people suffering a mental illness. The centre is located close to Waikato Hospital on the Waiora Waikato Hospital Campus in Hamilton.
You can use parking, transport shuttles, support services, chaplains/chapel, Maori advocates/kaitiaki, cafeterias and other amenities on the campus.
You can use parking, transport shuttles, support services, chaplains/chapel, Maori advocates/kaitiaki, cafeterias and other amenities on the campus.Henry Rongomau Bennett Centre can be contacted via Waikato Hospital operator on (07) 839 8899.
For any compliments, comments or complaints you have about any aspect of the service you or your family member receive in the centre, please follow our complaints and compliments procedure .
Whanau/family and friends can be involved in the care plan if the person in our care wishes.
See below for support and advice you can access if you have any concerns about treatment and care.
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Visiting information
Visiting informationVisiting times
We prefer you to arrange visiting times with the ward where possible.
- Puna Maatai and Puna Awhi-rua - Monday to Friday 3 - 4.30pm and 6 - 8pm . Visits outside of this time can be arranged with the nurse in charge. Visiting this ward is by prior arrangement only and for half hour slots. Prior bookings should be made via the ward.
- Puna Poipoi - Monday to Friday 3 - 4.30pm and 6 - 8pm . Weekend visiting is flexible. Visits outside of these times can be arranged with the nurse in charge.
- Puna Taunaki and Puna Whiti - visiting times are flexible.
- Weekends and public holidays - visiting times are flexible.
Visitors to Puna Maatai and Puna Awhi-rua
- At times visits may have to be shared with other visitors. Please try and limit the number of people visiting to two-four people per visit.
- Please ensure that children are supervised by an adult at all times.
- When visiting you will be asked to leave your personal belongings in your car or individual lockers before commencing your visit. Any articles and property brought in for the consumer/tangata whaiora will be subject to a security check.
- Families are allowed to share a meal with the tangata whaiora; we encourage healthy meal alternatives to takeaways.
- Strictly no lighters will be allowed in the visitor’s room while family are visiting whanau.
- Visitor toilets (including disabled) are situated on levels 1, 2 and 3.
- Illicit drugs and alcohol are not permitted in the Henry Rongomau Bennett Centre for visitor or patient use. The police will be notified and required to act accordingly.
- With Waikato Hospital and Waiora Waikato campus, the Henry Rongomau Bennett Centre is smokefree.
What you cannot wear or bring when you visit
For safety reasons, some articles that are considered a danger to the person you are visiting and others will be removed and stored in a secure room. In some instances they may be stored outside the centre for safe keeping.
To avoid delays when you visit, please do not wear or bring
- cell phones or laptops - (Wards 32/33 only)
- razors, sharp or metallic items/glass
- matches/lighters
- belts and braces
- clothing with cord e.g. hooded sweatshirts
- studded belts
- prescription/non prescription drugs
- steel capped boots
- glass bottles - (Wards 32/33 only)
- no cans (including deodorant sprays or fizzy drinks) - (Wards 32/33 only)
- valuable items e.g. jewellery, dress rings
- genuine leather clothing
- gang regalia
- cameras
- weapons
- knives, pizza cutters, syringes, needles
- alcohol
Amenities and support services
See the Waiora Waikato Hospital Campus section for information about other support services, amentities, shops, cafeterias, parking, shuttles, and accommodation available at the campus.
Telephone callsTelephone calls
The person you are visiting can receive or make telephone calls outside of therapy hours.
Radios, televisions and videosRadios, televisions and videos
Television, video, stereo and radio are available on each ward. Personal radios can be used in a limited way. Talk to the primary nurse caring for the person you are visiting.
MailMail
Personal mail will be delivered to wards. Mail should be addressed to:
Ward number/name
Henry Rongomau Bennett Centre
Waiora Waikato Hospital Campus
Private Bag 3200
Hamilton 3240
LaundryLaundry
There is a washing machine and dryer available on each ward for personal laundry.
Who you can contact for support or advice
District inspector
For concerns and advice about your family member/friend's rights, there is an official (usually a barrister or solicitor) who is appointed by the government to investigate patients concerns (mainly thos under the Mental Health Act). Ask the primary nurse about this.
For concerns and advice about your family member/friend's rights, there is an official (usually a barrister or solicitor) who is appointed by the government to investigate patients concerns (mainly thos under the Mental Health Act). Ask the primary nurse about this.
Health consumer advocatesHealth consumer advocates
Health consumer advocates are available for independent help with a complaint. Please ask for a Health Consumer brochure.
Cultural facilitators
If your family/whanau or member require cultural support, please ask the primary nurse how to contact a cultural facilitator.
If your family/whanau or member require cultural support, please ask the primary nurse how to contact a cultural facilitator.
Privacy officerPrivacy officer
For information about privacy concerns, contact the privacy officer on (07) 834 3654.
Family facilitator
Part of the care team at Henry Rongomau Bennett Centre. Offers support, information education, advocacy and links with the community based family /whanau support groups. Please ask your primary nurse to introduce you to your family facilitator.
Part of the care team at Henry Rongomau Bennett Centre. Offers support, information education, advocacy and links with the community based family /whanau support groups. Please ask your primary nurse to introduce you to your family facilitator.
The care team
There will be a team of clinicians who will work with patients, family or friends to plan the care and recovery and hold regular meetings to discuss this.
Here is a brief description of what each of the people in the team do:
Inpatient primary nurse
While your family member or friend may have contact with a number of nurses, one will be particularly involved in their care. This is the primary nurse. She/he is likely to be involved with the family/whanau and other members of the clinical team in the development of your family member/friend's care plan. The primary nurse will communicate with the rest of the team and ensure that all members of the team are kept informed of any changes over each 24 hour period. In the Forensic Service the primary nurse is called the inpatient key worker. In Ward 31, this person may be called the rehabilitation worker.
While your family member or friend may have contact with a number of nurses, one will be particularly involved in their care. This is the primary nurse. She/he is likely to be involved with the family/whanau and other members of the clinical team in the development of your family member/friend's care plan. The primary nurse will communicate with the rest of the team and ensure that all members of the team are kept informed of any changes over each 24 hour period. In the Forensic Service the primary nurse is called the inpatient key worker. In Ward 31, this person may be called the rehabilitation worker.
Psychiatrist
A psychiatrist (medical doctor specialising in mental health and mental illness) is a member of the team and will be developing and overseeing your family member/friend's care. It may be the same person who was your family member/friend's psychiatrist before their entry into the Henry Rongomau Bennett Centre.
A psychiatrist (medical doctor specialising in mental health and mental illness) is a member of the team and will be developing and overseeing your family member/friend's care. It may be the same person who was your family member/friend's psychiatrist before their entry into the Henry Rongomau Bennett Centre.
Registrar
Registrars are doctors who are completing extra training to become psychiatrists and they work under the supervision of the psychiatrist. Registrars spend more time on the ward and your family member/friend will probably see them more often.
Registrars are doctors who are completing extra training to become psychiatrists and they work under the supervision of the psychiatrist. Registrars spend more time on the ward and your family member/friend will probably see them more often.
Keyworker
If your family member/friend was admitted from the community mental health services they may have a keyworker who visited them regularly and may be a social worker, community mental health nurse, occupational therapist, cultural worker or psychologist. This person will liaise with your family member/friend and the inpatient team regarding care plans and discharge plans and ensure there is continuity of staff contact.
If your family member/friend was admitted from the community mental health services they may have a keyworker who visited them regularly and may be a social worker, community mental health nurse, occupational therapist, cultural worker or psychologist. This person will liaise with your family member/friend and the inpatient team regarding care plans and discharge plans and ensure there is continuity of staff contact.
Social worker
A social worker can check that your family member/friend is getting the resources they are entitled to and need, help find solutions to problems, arrange appropriate accommodation, and show how to access other agencies. They will also liaise with Work and Income to ensure any financial issues are dealt with.
A social worker can check that your family member/friend is getting the resources they are entitled to and need, help find solutions to problems, arrange appropriate accommodation, and show how to access other agencies. They will also liaise with Work and Income to ensure any financial issues are dealt with.
Occupational Therapist
Occupational therapists offer a range of occupational and practical services to enhance your family member/friend's self-empowerment which will assist in their recovery process. They will provide ward programmes which your family member/friend may participate in.
Occupational therapists offer a range of occupational and practical services to enhance your family member/friend's self-empowerment which will assist in their recovery process. They will provide ward programmes which your family member/friend may participate in.
Psychologist
Clinical psychologists are specially trained to understand human behaviour, thoughts and emotions. They can be involved in helping your family member/friend learn about themselves and will assist with developing strategies to empower them.
Clinical psychologists are specially trained to understand human behaviour, thoughts and emotions. They can be involved in helping your family member/friend learn about themselves and will assist with developing strategies to empower them.