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

Can I bring flowers for patients in hospital?

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Can I bring flowers for patients in hospital?

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It is not possible to have flowers in some hospital wards/areas. If you are thinking of purchasing flowers at Christchurch Hospital or Burwood Hospital please ask the hospital volunteers in the volunteer gift shops first.

Hospital gift shops also sell flower vouchers, for flowers to be delivered when the patient goes home, and other gifts are also available instead of flowers.

Christchurch Hospital

Flowers and potted plants are NOT ALLOWED in the following wards and units:

  • Ward 10
  • Ward 11
  • Ward 14
  • Ward 18
  • Ward 20
  • Ward 24
  • Ward 25
  • Ward A3, Waipapa – General Surgery and Gastroenterology, Surgical Progressive Care Unit (SPCU)
  • Ward A4, Waipapa – Orthopaedics and Trauma Unit 
  • Ward A5, Waipapa – General Surgery
  • Ward A8, Waipapa – Vascular Surgery and Acute Stroke Unit (ASU)
  • Ward B3, Waipapa – General Surgery and SARA
  • Ward B4, Waipapa – Orthopaedics 
  • Ward B8, Waipapa – Nephrology and Neurosurgery
  • BMTU (Bone Marrow Transplant Unit)
  • CHOC (Children’s Haematology and Oncology)
  • CICU (Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit)
  • DOSA (Day-of-Surgery Admission)
  • DSU (Day Surgery Unit)
  • ICU (Intensive Care Unit)
  • Medical Assessment Unit (MA) formerly known as AMAU (Acute Medical Assessment Unit)
  • PHDU (Paediatric High Dependency Unit)
  • UU (Urology Unit)

Christchurch Women's Hospital and Maternity Units

Flowers and potted plants are NOT ALLOWED in any wards in Christchurch Women’s Hospital. This includes the Maternity Ward and Birthing Suite and all Community Maternity Units at Rangiora, Rolleston, Ashburton and Kaikoura.

Burwood Hospital

Flowers and potted plants are NOT ALLOWED in the following wards and units:

  • Admitting Unit
  • PACU (Post-Anaesthetic Care Unit) (Recovery)
  • Progressive Care Unit
  • Check with ward staff Ward FG (Spinal Unit) and Ward CG (Brain Injury)

Staff flower deliveries

It is not possible to deliver flowers to staff during work. Staff must collect their flower delivery at the end of their shift on their way home.

Page last updated: 8 September 2022

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