VISITING HOSPITAL

All hospital visitors are recommended to wear a medical face mask. Expand this message for information about visiting hospital.

Last updated:
13 March 2023

Some visitor restrictions for all Te Whatu Ora Waitaha Canterbury hospitals and health facilities remain in place, but we have relaxed others.

There is still a heightened risk to vulnerable people in hospital and so we recommend all people wear a mask when visiting any of our facilities and follow other advice designed to keep patients, staff and  visitors safe.

To keep everybody safe:

  • Visitors or support people must not visit our facilities if they are unwell. Do not visit if you have recently tested positive for COVID-19 and haven’t completed your isolation period.
  • Patients may have more than one visitor, except in some situations such as multi-bed rooms where it can cause overcrowding.
  • Surgical/medical masks are recommended to be worn at all sites. Masks will be provided if you don’t have one.
  • For Specialist Mental Health Services everyone is strongly encouraged to wear a face mask in all inpatient areas and areas where consumers are receiving care (i.e. community appointments, home-visits, transporting people). Discretion may be applied in cases where masks impair your ability to communicate effectively.
  • Visitors must not eat or drink in multibed rooms because of the increased risk when multiple people remove their face mask in the same space.
  • Hand sanitiser is available and must be used.

Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding as our staff work hard to protect and care for some of the most vulnerable in our community.

Visiting patients with COVID-19

  • People can visit patients who have COVID-19 but they must wear an N95 mask – this will be provided if you don’t have one.
  • Other methods of communication will be facilitated e.g. phone, Facetime, Zoom, WhatsApp etc where visits aren’t possible.

All of our Hospitals

Visiting hours for our hospitals have returned to pre COVID-19 hours with the exception of Christchurch Women’s Hospital.

All visitors are recommended to wear a medical face mask.

Parents/caregivers are able to be with their child in hospital and visitors are now allowed, except for the Children’s Haematology and Oncology Day stay where just one parent/caregiver is able to attend their appointment with their child. Exceptions by special arrangement only.

Patients and visitors should also read the additional more detailed visiting guidelines for each specific hospital.

More COVID-19 information

Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Cancer Service

What is the Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Cancer Service?

The Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Service is here to help improve outcomes for young people aged between 12 and 24 with cancer in New Zealand. This is done through helping to coordinate your cancer care with other health professionals, and assisting with addressing you and your family's social concerns during and after treatment.

The AYA Cancer Service is a team of health professionals focused on providing care for AYA's with Cancer.

The team consists of:

  • AYA Cancer Keyworker
  • Adult Haematologists
  • Adult Oncologists
  • Paediatric Oncologists
  • Psychologists
  • Radiation Specialists and
  • Allied Health professionals

The team works together to ensure each AYA patient gets the care and support that they require, along with ensuring that the unique needs of young cancer patients are highlighted and addressed on both a local and national level.

How you can help us

If you would like to help AYA you can donate via the Māia Health Foundation. An AYA Cancer fund has been created to raise money to support young people undergoing cancer treatment by providing:

  • Comfort and entertainment packs for young people undergoing cancer treatment
  • Fertility preservation for young people that do not qualify for MOH fertility funding
  • Produce specific youth resources and events to support young people during and after treatment
  • Palliative care grants to help young people and their family create memories together towards their end of life

For more information read the AYA Cancer fund brochure or Māia Health Foundation page on this website.

Page last updated: 16 January 2023

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