VISITING HOSPITAL

All hospital visitors are encouraged to wear a medical face mask. Expand this message for information about visiting hospital. 

Last updated:
31 October 2024

Some visitor restrictions for all Health New Zealand | 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 we encourage 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 are advised to not visit our facilities if they are unwell. We advise that you 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 encouraged to be worn at all sites. Masks will be provided if you don’t have one.
  • Please practice hand hygiene with provided alcohol-based hand rub/gel

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 a surgical mask as a minimum – please use surgical masks provided.

All of our Hospitals

Visiting hours for our hospitals have returned to pre COVID-19 hours.

All visitors are encouraged to wear a medical face mask.

Parents/caregivers can be with their child in hospital and visitors are now allowed, except for the Children’s Haematology and Oncology Day stay where visitor restrictions might apply.

Patients and visitors can also read the additional COVID-19 related visiting guidelines .

Menemene Mai (Smile)

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Strategies for Kaiako

Kaiako we spoke with in relation to this ‘Menemene Mai’ oral health toolkit, wanted strategies to use in their settings. Below are some ‘Top Pick’ Strategies.

Encourage ‘Eating well’

  • Role-model tooth-friendly kai food choices
  • Encourage eating tooth-friendly kai (including fresh, nutritious fruit and vegetables)

Encourage ‘Drinking well’

  • Role-model tooth-friendly drink choices
  • Encourage tooth-friendly drink choices (water and plain milk)
  • Encourage tamariki to drink water after meals
  • Ensure free water and milk are the ONLY drinks provided for tamariki
  • Ensure water is available and accessible indoors and outdoors to tamariki at all times
  • Promote and support breastfeeding
  • When pēpē are bottle feeding, staff hold pēpē and remove bottle if pēpē falls asleep
  • Don’t associate your early childhood education setting with programmes or sponsors that promote foods/drinks high in fat, sugar, and/or salt

Encourage ‘Cleaning well’

Use key messages

We emphasise the following key messages in our mahi:    

  • Baby teeth matter- they help me smile, chew and talk
  • Brush teeth twice a day- morning and night - with fluoride toothpaste
  • Brush teeth together with whānau
  • Spit don’t rinse after brushing
  • Choose water and plain milk to drink
  • Choose healthy kai
  • Have a dental check-up each year
Use an holistic framework

Frame oral health work within a Te Whare Tapa Whā model and/or Fonofale model, so discussed in an holistic context of whole body health, protecting our body dignity, connection between whole self, body and spirit- impact on wellbeing of good (and poor) oral health.

 

Page last updated: 23 January 2025

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  • Please note: Information submitted from this form is only used for the purpose of improving this website, the form is not regularly monitored. For all enquiries and feedback (including complaints, suggestions and compliments) about Te Whatu Ora - Waitaha Canterbury health services, please use the Enquiries and Feedback Form We cannot respond to requests for medical advice, please contact your family doctor, specialist medical professional, or call healthline on 0800 611 116.

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