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

Intensive Care

Intensive Care is the specialist care given to patients with sudden and potentially reversible life-threatening diseases or injuries. This can include following accidents, operations, severe infections, or a coma. 

Christchurch Hospital Intensive Care Unit is Tertiary Intensive Care Facility, we have 36 beds with resourced beds in 3 pods. The unit provides tertiary care for people in Waitaha Canterbury and Te Tai o Poutini West Coast. The unit is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and is staffed by a large team of experienced doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals.
 
Patients may be admitted to Intensive Care from the emergency department, hospital wards, operating theatre, or following transfer from another hospital or Intensive Care Unit.

Essential information for visiting Intensive Care

Essential visiting information is below, for more detailed information about visiting see the Whānau and visitors section.

 

You should expect to pay for car parking as there are very few free car parks near the hospital.

Hospital shuttle bus

The popular Christchurch Hospital shuttle service runs every 15 minutes from the Deans Avenue Park and Ride Car Park. The car park is a 15-20 minute walk, or a 5-10 minute free shuttle bus ride from hospital.

Parking on-site

There is very limited premium metered car parking in front of the Emergency Department outside the Waipapa building. This is the only public car parking available on-site, and we encourage using this only for emergencies and patient drop-off and pick-up. We recommend that drivers use different nearby car parks or the Deans Avenue Park and Ride Car Park if they need to park longer than 30-60mins.

The first  30 minutes of parking is free (note: your license plate number must be entered into the parking meter to get 30 minutes free) . After 30 minutes the following charges will apply:

  • 30-60 minutes: $7.50
  • From 60 minutes onwards: additional $5 per half hour or part thereof ($80 maximum charge for a 24-hour period).

There are also a number of P180 mobility parks in this area. These parks are free for mobility permit holders.

 NEW//   Nearby car parking – Tū Waka-Waipapa Public Car park

Tū Waka-Waipapa is a new 463-space car park, located at the corner of St Asaph Street and Hagley Avenue, a 4-5 minute (300 metre) walk from Christchurch Hospital.

Parking charges:

Casual Day

  • First 20 Minutes – Free
  • 21-60 Minutes – $6.00
  • Per half hour or Part Thereof/Thereafter – $3.00
  • Maximum daily charge – $24.00

New day starts at 5:00am. Monday – Sunday

Night

  • Entry after 4pm, valid until 8am the following morning – $10.00

About the Tū Waka-Waipapa car park:

  • 463 parking spaces including mobility parks.
  • Open 24/7 with no limits on parking times.
  • Car park users pay for parking at the lobby through pay stations using cash or eftpos.
  • There are bike racks on the ground floor for cyclists to use for free.

Tū Waka-Waipapa car park is managed by Wilson Parking on behalf of Ngāi Tahu Property. More information can be found at www.wilsonparking.co.nz

On-street parking and other car parks

There is limited car parking near Christchurch Hospital including on-street metered parking and paid parking lots in surrounding streets. You can check CCC Parking Map to view many parking options nearby the hospital.

Car parking advice

  • When travelling to hospital we recommend that you allow extra time to park and to get to an  appointment.
  • There is a recorded 0800 phone number for the very latest parking information, call 0800 555 300.
  • Other privately operated metered car parks are available within the vicinity of Christchurch Hospital.

 

The Intensive Care is located above the Emergency Department on level one of the Waipapa building at Christchurch Hospital Campus. For information about car parking see our Whānau and visitors section.

ICU location map

Visiting hours in Intensive Care are unrestricted, but there are times when visiting may not be possible.

  • You may be unable to enter Intensive Care because your relative/friend is having a procedure, linen change, or being reviewed by the doctors or physiotherapist. If this is the case, we will bring you into Intensive Care as soon as possible after this.
  • In some cases, visiting may be restricted to whānau and close friends. Please discuss any special needs you may have regarding visiting to enable us to assist you.

When arriving at the Intensive Care Unit:

  • Please check in with the staff at the reception desk.
  • If the reception desk is unattended, please use the intercom, and we will answer as soon as we are able to.

  • For general enquiries about patients: please call patient enquiries on 03 364 0600
  • For specific information about a patients condition: Intensive Care nursing and medical staff will keep you updated about your relative/friends' condition each time you visit.
  • If you require further information about your relative/friend: We can arrange a family meeting to allow time for further questions and explanations. This may include your whānau, medical, nursing staff, and a social worker.

 

Page last updated: 27 November 2023

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