NOTE// Due to COVID-19, patients are currently only allowed one support person or visitor at a time.
For more details about what to do when visiting please see our COVID-19 page.
The Emergency Department is clearly signposted on Christchurch hospital street entrance signs and has a separate external entrance at the front of Christchurch Hospital's Waipapa building
COVID-19 screening questions: When you visit one of our facilities or access healthcare in the community in Canterbury, you will be asked a few additional screening questions as a measure to prevent the spread of infection. The kind of questions you may be asked are whether you have any respiratory symptoms consistent with COVID-19 – we may, for example, direct people with respiratory illness to a different ‘stream’ within our facilities to keep them separate from everyone else. We may also ask if you have been vaccinated against COVID-19 – simply to allow us the opportunity to let you know where you can get a vaccination.
You will first be seen by an experienced emergency nurse, who will assess how urgent your condition is and how quickly you will need to be seen. You will then be seen by a clerical officer to register, this may occur in the main entrance or in one of the treatment areas.
If you are feeling worse while you are waiting, please speak to the nurse straightaway.
An Associate Clinical Nurse Manager (ACNM) and a senior doctor (Consultant or Registrar) are in charge of the department 24 hours a day.
If you are a patient please do not eat or drink anything until you check with the nurse or doctor.
Visitor refreshments may be obtained from the vending machines in the waiting room or the coffee shop in the main entrance. There are drinking water fountains in each area.
There are toilets for patients and visitors located all around the department.
There is no baby change in the waiting room toilet. There is one in the Acute Care area, another in the corridor between ED Radiology and ED Observation opposite the Acute Care entrance, and a third in the Waipapa foyer toilets.
More and more staff documentation and information are now digital. Also, more staff now receive referrals by phone rather than pagers. As a result, lots of staff are regularly checking or answering their phones when on duty.
We have onsite security staff. There are also video cameras in all the main public patient areas.
NOTE// Violent behaviour (verbal or physical) that threatens patients or staff will not be tolerated.
We will take as much care as possible with your clothes and valuables. We ask that you also take responsibility.
TIP// Do not leave bags or anything of value unattended.
Non-residents with no reciprocal New Zealand healthcare agreement are asked to pay at registration. Visitors to New Zealand are able to claim back healthcare costs using travel insurance.
More information about paying for your health care can be found in the Patients and Visitors section of this website.
NOTE// To protect the privacy of other patients, only 2 visitors may be with you at any time. UPDATED// Due to COVID-19 patients are currently only allowed one support person or visitor at a time, for more information see our detailed COVID-19 restrictions.
This ensures equity (fairness) between all patients. If you have come with a larger whānau or support group, please do not be offended if they are asked to take it in turns to sit with you.
If you are a visitor, please use hand gel on entering and leaving the emergency department, and after touching people or surfaces, and if you have a cough or cold please consider not entering the department – if you need to stay please wear a face‑mask.
Information regarding your ED visit will be sent to your family doctor. Please advise the staff if you DO NOT wish this.
If you have a Shared Care Plan such as an Acute Care Plan or an Advanced Care Plan please feel free to tell us of it. Sometimes we may develop an Acute Care Plan for you, and you may add to it with your family doctor.
Christchurch Hospital is a major teaching hospital for many health professionals. Students and medics from the ambulance service and armed forces are supervised by the ED staff.
Local, national, and international research and post-graduate studies are also carried out here. You may be asked to participate. This is voluntary and occurs only with your consent. Please let staff know if you are uncomfortable with any aspect of this.
We are committed to providing quality healthcare and positive patient experiences. What you think about the care you receive is important to us: what we are doing well and where we can improve. If you have any concerns:
The blue Customer Response boxes can be used for any feedback. These are available in key areas of the hospital including the ED Waiting Room. You can also provide feedback by using the website feedback form.
You may be invited to participate in a national Inpatient Experience Survey via a link in a text message or an email, or you may be given a hard copy of the survey. Your email address will only be used for the purpose of emailing you the survey if you are admitted overnight. If you use email, please provide your email address to one of the clerical officers or drop it (with your full name and date of birth) into one of the blue Customer Response Boxes.
There is a drop-off area directly outside the Emergency Department entrance for patients, and there is very limited metered parking on-site in front of the Waipapa building. We encourage that this parking is only used for emergencies and drop-off and pick-up. The first 30 minutes of parking is free. After 30 minutes premium car parking charges apply.
We recommend that you use the nearest off-site car parking, this is located on Oxford Terrace, Riccarton Avenue, Rolleston Avenue, Cambridge Terrace, and Deans Avenue. You can also use nearby CCC public car parks.
More parking options are listed at CDHB Transport and parking
Page last updated: 26 January 2022
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