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

Ashburton Community Maternity Unit

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COVID-19 visitor recommendations until further notice

For details about what to do when visiting, please see our COVID-19 page.

We are baby-friendly accredited

We are a Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) accredited maternity unit, supporting mama and whānau to feed their babies.

For more information see www.babyfriendly.org.nz, you can also read our Breastfeeding Policy (400KB, PDF) 

You’re pregnant and have COVID-19? We’re here to support you (PDF, 800KB) pamphlet.

You’re pregnant and have COVID-19? 

During pregnancy, most people with COVID-19 will have a mild flu-like illness and it is unlikely to cause problems for you or your baby, especially if you have been vaccinated. 

Read more advice and find useful links and phone numbers in our You’re pregnant and have COVID-19? We’re here to support you (PDF, 800KB) pamphlet.

Ashburton Maternity Unit is located approximately one hour’s drive from south of Christchurch and provides primary birthing care and postnatal maternity services. In collaboration with your Lead Maternity Carer, Ashburton Maternity Unit can offer you 24 hour, safe, flexible and supportive midwifery care during, and / or after, the birth of your baby.

Pregnancy and birth are normal physiological processes for the majority of women. If you have no complications detected, the option of birthing at a primary unit should be offered and encouraged.

By choosing to birth at a primary facility, you are more likely to have a normal birth and less likely to need interventions. Most women who choose to birth at Ashburton do so, but occasionally a transfer to tertiary services at Christchurch Women's Hospital is necessary. Ashburton Maternity Unit is fully equipped for childbirth, and the midwives are regularly trained to deal with emergencies.

Primary Birthing Units provide a relaxed homelike environment enabling uninterrupted birth and adjustment to parenthood, with time to support you during breastfeeding. This may include an extended stay to establish breastfeeding if you live remotely.

If you birth at Christchurch Women's Hospital, you can be transferred to Ashburton for your postnatal care, either directly from the Birthing Suite, or from the Maternity Ward.

Page last updated: 19 January 2024

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