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 can also read the additional COVID-19 related visiting guidelines .

Child Health Advisory Council

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The Child Health Advisory Council (CHAC) was formed in July 2010 to provide an organised way for parents and guardians to offer input on issues that impact the care of children.

The council also provides a family perspective for Child Health Service on decisions that need to be made or changes that are being developed. The council comprises 8 parents, 1 representative from Māori and 1 from Pacific communities, 3 hospital staff representatives and a space is held open for a representative from the West Coast.

We work with hospital leadership and staff to:

  • Promote and improve family-centred care, in which the voices of parents and, when appropriate, children are involved in decision-making related to care
  • Review written educational material to be shared with families
  • Focus on improved quality in health care, patient satisfaction, and maintaining an attractive environment
  • Serve in an advisory role to help hospital leadership plan programmes and services valued by patients and families.
  • Update adolescent rooms in Ward 21 with financial support from Riccarton Rotary Club
  • Update the Matatiki Children's Health website

Current Members

Natalie Lamborn (Chair)Emma van der Kley
Tracy Jackson, Nursing Director, Women’s and Children’s Angela Hamilton
Helen Thorne (Staff Representative)Graeme Webb, Quality Coordinator, Child and Youth Health
Tracey Johnstone (Staff Representative)Chanelle Sluys
Patricia LindsayMegan Bryant

Goals and Expectations

This document outlines the purpose of CHAC members being involved as whanau consumer representatives on various health groups. Child Health Advisory Council – Goals and Expectations

Feel free to contact us

For more information about the Child Health Advisory Council, how you can incorporate family input into your project, or if you have a suggestion for the Child Health Advisory Council, just send an email to CHAC@cdhb.health.nz

Page last updated: 4 July 2023

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