Once upon a time, two hospitals decided to become one. MercyAscot is now a large private surgical facility. It stands as a beacon of healthcare in Auckland.
MercyAscot formed in 2001. It was the integration of Ascot Hospital and Mercy Hospital. This merger combined caring traditions. It also embraced innovation and technological advances.
Why did they merge? The partnership brought a long tradition of caring. It also introduced a fresh approach to healthcare in the private sector. This approach is based on innovation and technology. MercyAscot staff share a high level of technical skill. They also share a nurturing attitude. They understand that everything matters for the patient experience.
The Sisters of Mercy arrived in Auckland in 1850. They were the first order of religious sisters in New Zealand. Catherine McAuley founded the order. She envisioned one-to-one care for the sick and dying. Initially, the sisters and lay staff ran the Mater. It was a convalescent hospital with limited surgical facilities. The sisters took patients into their home. They also visited patients in their own homes. By the 1920s, the hospital had become a thriving surgical center. It was more like its present form. This was unlike the small cottage hospital of two decades earlier.
From 1918 to 1936, the hospital grew rapidly. It met the increasing demand for private surgery. This was alongside Auckland Public Hospital. This growth led to the construction of the large main block in 1936.
By the mid-1960s, Mercy Hospital began to specialize. It developed New Zealand’s first private cardio-thoracic unit. Sir Brian Barrett-Boyes directed this unit.
The 1970s were difficult. The Sisters of Mercy adjusted to the post Vatican II world. Social changes reduced recruitment. Religious life transformed as the order reconsidered its missions. The hospital faced financial pressure. In 1979, it had to close its maternity ward. In the early 1980s, the hospital modernized. It dedicated itself to high-quality private healthcare.
Ascot Integrated Hospital opened in April 1999. It featured 68 private hotel-style rooms. It had greater operating capacity than any other private hospital in the city. Ascot challenged public perception of private medicine.
Today, MercyAscot operates across three sites. These are Mercy Hospital in Epsom, Ascot Hospital in Remuera, and endoscopy clinics. The endoscopy clinics are in Epsom and Takapuna, North Shore. Over 650 staff members work hard. They deliver the best care possible. They leave no stone unturned. Together with committed specialists, they treat thousands of patients each year. MercyAscot has 22 operating theaters. It also has a high dependency unit and an intensive care unit.
MercyAscot offers a wide range of specialty areas. These include bariatric surgery and breast surgery. Also available are cardiothoracic surgery and cardiology. Colorectal surgery and day surgery are offered. Other areas include ENT, endoscopy, and gastroenterology. General surgery and gynaecology are available. Head and neck surgery plus hepatobiliary services are provided. MercyAscot offers intensive care and neurosurgery. Oesophageal, oral, and maxillofacial surgery are options. Orthopaedics and paediatric surgery are available. Pancreatic, pharmacy, and plastic surgery are options. Urology and vascular surgery are also offered.
For cardiac care inquiries, contact Princess Marufu. She is the Charge Nurse Manager for Cardiac Investigations. You can reach her at +64 9 623 5710. Her email is princess.marufu@mercyascot.co.nz.