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

Audiology

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Audiology is the study of hearing and balance. Audiologists assess and manage hearing, listening and balance disorders.

If you think you have a SUDDEN hearing loss, please present to your GP as soon as possible.

Audiology Services

Audiology services at Christchurch Hospital include:

  • Diagnostic hearing assessments for children
  • Diagnostic hearing and balance assessments for patients who are under the care of the Ear, Nose and Throat Department
  • Ototoxicity monitoring

Hearing Aids

Hearing Aid Services for children are provided offsite by the Children’s Hearing Aid Service, a contracted service of Te Whatu Ora Waitaha Canterbury.

Hearing Aid services for adults can be accessed in the community. There is no adult hearing aid service at Christchurch Hospital.

Referral Information

Referrals are accepted from:

  • Doctors, including General Practitioners, Paediatricians, and Ear, Nose and Throat Specialists
  • Newborn Hearing Screeners
  • Vision Hearing Screeners

Referrals can be sent via the Electronic Referral Management System (ERMS) or as a standard clinical referral letter.

Referrals for children and young people should include, at a minimum, the following information:

  • Level of concern regarding hearing
  • Speech and language development
  • General development
  • Any other known medical conditions that may be associated with hearing loss
  • Relevant social information or the need for an interpreter

Page last updated: 13 February 2023

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