COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

Information about changes at hospitals and health centres can be found at www.cdhb.health.nz/covid19

VISITORS TO HOSPITAL

Updated - effective from 14 May 2020 until further notice. Under COVID-19 Alert Level 2 visitor access to health facilities continues to be restricted.– details for all facilities...

Last updated:
29 April 2020

Please remember, limiting our interactions with others is our best defence against COVID-19. Please don’t visit the hospital if you don’t need to. The following level 2 visitor restrictions are in place for all Canterbury DHB health facilities:

  • Visitors will be screened and asked to provide contact details upon arrival
  • Visitors who are unwell or have suspicion of COVID-19 will not be able to enter
  • Aged residential care: no visitors, however, family visits for palliative care residents who do not have COVID-19 will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Specific and detailed visitor restrictions that apply to each hospital are available on our COVID-19 page.

Ashburton Community Maternity Unit

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There are temporary visitor restrictions to all maternity services due to COVID-19

Details of visitors restrictions for Ashburton Community Maternity Unit ...

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) 

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: 4 May 2020

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