HOSPITAL VISITING

Hospital visiting guidelines updated 16 September 2022: Hospital visitors must wear a surgical/medical paper mask. Fabric face coverings are not acceptable. See our COVID-19 pages for detailed information about hospital visiting guidelines, COVID-19 tests and care in the community advice. See www.vaccinatecanterburywestcoast.nz for information about vaccinations.

Last updated:
16 September 2022

 

Mask exemptions accepted for people seeking treatment
Any member of the public with a mask exemption is welcome in all our facilities when attending to receive health care and *treatment. Please show your mask exemption card and appointment letter to staff at the entrance.

*Treatment includes: coming into the Emergency Department, outpatient appointments,  surgery or a procedure.

For visitors to all facilities effective from Friday 16 September 2022

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 people must continue to wear a mask when visiting any of our facilities and follow other advice designed to keep patients, staff and other visitors safe.

Kia whakahaumaru te whānau, me ngā iwi katoa – this is 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 must 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 surgical 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 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 are able to 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, WhatApp 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 must wear a medical mask.

Parents/caregivers are able to be with their child in hospital and visitors other than a parent or caregiver 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

Darfield Hospital

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Mask exemptions accepted for people seeking treatment

Any member of the public with a mask exemption is welcome in all our facilities when attending to receive health care and *treatment. 

Please show your mask exemption card and appointment letter to staff at the entrance.

*Treatment includes coming into the Emergency Department, outpatient appointments,  surgery or a procedure. 

Waikari, Darfield and Ellesmere - reopening 31 October 2022

On 7 March 2022 Canterbury DHB temporarily closed Darfield, Ellesmere and Waikari Rural Community Hospitals (RHCs) due to widespread and elevated COVID-19 infection rates among our staff and community. Residents were relocated to other facilities that could provide safe and appropriate care.

Rural hospitals at Darfield, Ellesmere and Waikari are planned to reopen on 31 October 2022, you can read more about this on our news page Reopening Waitaha’s rural hospitals.

Darfield Hospital is 35 minutes drive from Christchurch on Highway 73 to the West Coast via Arthurs Pass. The hospital has 8 beds for providing continuing Care of the Elderly, Respite and End of Life Care and short term transitional care for patients returning to their home.

With two local general practitioners in Darfield, general medical services are readily available.

Contact

Visiting hours

There are COVID-19 visitor guidelines in place – further details...

Mothers' wishes are followed but it is preferable that there is no visiting after 8pm or before 8am.

Partners are most welcome to stay overnight in the double bed provided. They are welcome to make themselves drinks. There is a snacks box, but no meals or showers are provided.

Location

Street address
31 Mathias St,
Darfield 7510

In an emergency

In a medical emergency, call 111 and ask for an ‘ambulance’.

Enquiries and feedback

We welcome your feedback about our services and your experiences at Darfield Hospital.

Note: We cannot give medical advice by email. Please contact your doctor or the person in charge of your medical care.

Patients and Visitors

General information for people visiting hospitals in Canterbury.

View patient and visitor advice

Darfield Hospital facilities at a glance

Accessible

Disability car parking

Hot drinks

Laundry and dry cleaning

  • Library service facilitated by the Friends of Ashburton Hospital

Mail

Meals on wheels

Newspapers

Parking

  • Shopping and outings can be arranged

Smokefree hospital

Visitor and disabled toilets

WiFi (Free to use)

Page last updated: 2 September 2022

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