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 .

Brain Injury Rehabilitation

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Concussion Outcome Study

In this study we are exploring factors that promote or hinder concussion recovery. You can visit the study website to see what the study is all about, and to see early results as they become available.

The Brain Injury Rehabilitation Service (BIRS) is a 12 bed inpatient ward that provides comprehensive rehabilitation for people aged 16 - 65 with the following conditions:

  • Acquired brain injury e.g. stroke, traumatic brain injury, hypoxic brain injury
  • Neurological conditions e.g. Multiple Sclerosis,
  • Huntington's Disease
  • The service also provides carer relief or respite care.

The philosophy, vision and mission statements of the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Service are aligned with the Canterbury District Health Board's values to care and respect for others, integrity in all we do and responsibility for outcomes.

Philosophy

Together facilitating empowered living

Vision

To be a collaborative specialist service which delivers quality neuro-rehabilitation.

Mission Statement

  • Life
  • Independence
  • Functional Ability
  • Empowerment
  • "To be the best that I can be"

Team

The Brain Injury Rehabilitation Service team consists of:

  • Medical team: Medical Officer (MO) and Registrar
  • Neurosurgeon, Rehabilitation Consultant
  • Rehabilitation Nursing
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Social Work
  • Physiotherapy
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Speech Language Therapy
  • Recreation Officer
  • Māori Health Liaison
  • Nutrition
  • Secretarial

The Brain Injury Rehabilitation Service uses an Interdisciplinary Team approach.

The patient is the central focus of the team and is involved as a team member with goal setting, family meetings, etc. Families and carers are encouraged to participate when practical and are provided with support and education from the Interdisciplinary Team.

Collaborative practice is an important aspect of the Interdisciplinary Team function. It is facilitated by daily and weekly team meetings within office areas based in the ward and joint therapy sessions when indicated.

The weekly Interdisciplinary Team meeting ensures the communication of assessments, goal setting and the completion of patient's rehabilitation plans to provide optimal care.

By working together and with the patient optimal outcomes are achieved.

Features of the service include:

  • Quiet Room with a courtyard for high dependency patients
  • Access to therapy facilities
  • Gymnasium and pool facilities
  • Workshop amenities
  • Garden area for rehabilitation and recreation
  • Access to community facilities and organisations
  • Comfortable family lounge areas
  • Car parking space close to the ward

Outpatient Service

The Brain Injury Rehabilitation Service offers an outpatients service.

The outpatient service provides 1:1 sessions, group therapy and hydrotherapy for Ministry of Health patients and ACC Concussion Clinic.

The Concussion Clinic is an early intervention service funded by ACC providing assessment and intervention for people with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (MTBI) including those with post Concussion Syndrome (PCS).

The Outpatient team consists of:

  • Medical Specialist
  • Neuropsychologist
  • Occupational Therapist
  • Physiotherapist
  • Social Workers
  • Rehabilitation Nursing
  • Secretarial

Useful information

Recovering from Concussion (PDF, 200KB)

Stroke Foundation ph: 03 381 8500 email: southern@stroke.org.nz
Burwood Hospital
Allan Bean Centre
Multiple Sclerosis Society
Accident and Compensation Corporation (ACC)
Ministry of Health (MOH)

Page last updated: 3 May 2023

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