Welcome to Belverdale Hospital’s dedicated page for referring GPs. We hope you find this information useful — and we’re always happy to answer any questions directly.
Belverdale is an independently, locally owned surgical hospital providing high-quality private surgical care close to home. When you refer a patient to a Belverdale specialist, you can be confident they’ll be well looked after at every stage of their care.
Why refer to Belverdale
- The right level of care. We provide a full range of surgical facilities and equipment to care for your patients appropriately. Should a patient require intensive or high-dependency care (ICU/HDU), transfer to Whanganui Hospital can be arranged quickly.
- Certified and accredited. Belverdale holds certification under the Health and Disability Services (Safety) Act 2001 for the maximum three-year term, and is a member of the New Zealand Private Hospital Association.
- Care close to home. Your patients can recover near their friends and family, avoiding the travel, cost and stress of seeking treatment further afield.
- A trusted local reputation. Quality of care is our priority, and we’re proud of the clinical reputation we’ve built across the region.
Funding and insurance
Belverdale welcomes both privately paying patients and those with medical insurance.
- Medical insurance. We accept all New Zealand private health insurance policies. We can provide your patient with a cost estimate to send to their insurer; the patient then contacts their insurance company before surgery to obtain prior approval.
- Southern Cross Affiliated Provider. Some services are only covered for Southern Cross members when performed by an Affiliated Provider. Belverdale holds several contracts under the Southern Cross Affiliated Provider Programme.
- ACC. Belverdale provides surgical services to ACC-approved patients under contract to Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand.
The pre-admission process
Once you’ve referred a patient, we take care of their admission planning. Most patients attend our nurse-led Pre-anaesthetic Assessment Clinic before their surgery is confirmed, and we guide them through the health questionnaire, consent and any tests they need beforehand. Full details for patients are set out on our patient information page.
Keeping you informed
We know how important it is for you to stay across your patient’s care. You’ll receive timely communication throughout their time with us — including a discharge summary once they leave our care — so you have everything you need to support their ongoing recovery.