Surgical Specialties & Anaesthetic Services

Surgical services provide a 24-hour clinically integrated service for children and adults on an outpatient, inpatient and day-stay basis and includes treatment for acute illnesses as well as elective surgery. The service is supported by a five bed, level 3 Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The anaesthetic service supports all specialty services, the Acute Pain Service, the national malignant hypothermia programme and medical staffing of the ICU.

Services provided include:

  • Elective Services


    Elective Services at MidCentral Health follow Ministry of Health guidelines.

  • Emergency Department


    Find out more about MidCentral Health’s 24-hour Emergency Department (ED) based at Palmerston North Hospital.

  • General Surgery


    In the MidCentral District Health Board acute and non-urgent general (elective) surgery is performed at Palmerston North Hospital.

  • ICU/Anaesthetics


    MidCentral Health's intensive care and anaesthetic services includes an intenisve care unit, pain management, intravenous therapy services, and malignant hyperthermia information.

  • Washing hands with liquid soap

    Infection Control


    The goal of MidCentral Health's infection control service is to reduce the risk of infection to customers, staff and users of MidCentral Health's services at Palmerston North Hospital and Horowhenua Health Centre.

  • Malignant Hyperthermia Testing

    Malignant Hyperthermia


    Malignant Hyperthermia is an uncommon pharmacogenetic disorder of skeletal muscle. It has autosomal dominant inheritance with an incidence of approximately 1:40,000 anaesthetics administered in adults and 1:15,000 in children.

  • Surgical Services


    MidCentral Health provides general and specialist surgical services for both acute and elective patients including a day surgery unit.


Surgical services also support other specialist services like breast screening, paediatrics and lymphoedema. Most surgical services are provided at Palmerston North Hospital but some specialist outpatient clinics are also held at Dannevirke Community Hospital, Pahiatua Community Health Services and Horowhenua Health Centre.



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