Endocrinology - Otago | Southern : Healthpoint

Ōamaru Hospital

Contact Details

Endocrinology Secretary (Dunedin): Ph: 03 4709145, Email: endocrinologydunedin@southerndhb.govt.nz
Frederick Street Outpatients Department: 03 4709241, Fax 03 4709918

Street Address

8 Steward St
Ōamaru

Postal Address

Private Bag 50059
Ōamaru

Description

The Endocrinology Service is a regional tertiary specialty service. It involves specialist care for complex endocrine disorders. The team consists of a range of health professionals including physicians, diabetes educators/nurse specialists, an endocrinology nurse, dietitians and a podiatrist. We also offer a telehealth service.

The service delivers an outpatient clinic service at Dunedin, Dunstan (Telehealth clinic - please note some new patients will have to travel to Dunedin for their initial appointment), Balclutha (Face to Face) and Ōamaru (Face to Face and Telehealth) hospitals.

We also have an inpatient service at Dunedin Hospital where we liaise closely with other specialties.

What is Endocrinology ?

Endocrinology is the study of the endocrine system in the human body. This is a system of glands which secrete hormones. Hormones are chemicals which affect the actions of different organ systems in the body. Examples include thyroid hormone, growth hormone, and insulin.

Your endocrinologist is a specialist doctor interested in diseases that affect your hormones. The major areas endocrinologists work in are:

diabetes
osteoporosis & Paget’s Disease
thyroid disease
sex hormone imbalances
disorders of growth and development
disorders of the pituitary gland
disorders of the adrenal gland.

Referral Expectations

You will be referred by your General Practitioner (GP) to an endocrinologist if you have a problem with any part of your endocrine system (the system that makes hormones). Your referral will be prioritised (given a position on a list of other referrals) depending on the disease and its severity.

The average waiting time before an appointment at a clinic ranges from 2 weeks to 4 months, depending on priority. If you would like to consider telehealth for your appointment please let your referrer know. This can be offered if appropriate depending on the reason for referral.

You may be asked to undergo some tests or fill in a questionnaire before seeing the doctor in the clinic to help with the diagnosis.

You will see either a specialist or a registrar (a doctor training to become a specialist who works under the supervision of a specialist). There are also specialist nurses who may be involved with your appointment and ongoing treatment.

You may have ongoing follow-up in the clinic or have your treatment carried out by your GP with advice from the specialist.

Procedures / Treatments

Diabetes (diabetes mellitus)

Osteoporosis

Thyroid disorders

Pituitary gland disorders

Endocrinology - Otago | Southern