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

Bring your own mask when visiting the hospital

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Tuesday 18 August 2020Media release3 minutes to read

THIS IS AN ARCHIVED PAGE. The advice and information contained in this page may not be current and it should only be used for historical reference purposes.

Canterbury DHB is encouraging visitors to its facilities to bring their own masks

Canterbury DHB is encouraging visitors to its facilities to bring their own masks

Canterbury DHB is reminding people to wear a mask when visiting a hospital or health centre while the region is under COVID-19 Alert Level 2.

The official advice is for people to wear a mask in situations where keeping a safe physical distance from others might be difficult. To stay safe, carry a mask with you whenever you leave the house. If you are taking the hospital shuttle from the Park and Ride to the health precinct, then a mask provides an added layer of protection.

“Please bring your own mask with you when visiting our hospitals,” says Chief Medical Officer Dr Sue Nightingale.

“We have a good supply of disposable masks at the moment but with thousands of people accessing our facilities on a daily basis, it is important for us to use our supplies wisely.”

Staff working at the hospital follow the Ministry of Health’s guidance on personal protective equipment in the workplace. Those working in non-clinical areas or who can maintain safe physical distance from others are not required to wear masks.

Although there is no community transmission of COVID-19 in Canterbury, if people can’t practice safe physical distancing, masks are recommended to provide protection against COVID-19, along with good hand hygiene practices and cough and sneeze etiquette.

Face masks can be either fabric reusable (washable), or a single use disposable face mask. These can be purchased online, from supermarkets or pharmacies or you can make your own fabric reusable (washable) face masks. WHO advice on when and how to use masks including how to make your own can be found on the WHO website.

It’s up to you whether you make your own mask or buy disposable surgical masks. Face coverings such as a bandana or a scarf can also be used if you do not have a mask.

If you’re travelling to hospital via public transport, remember to cover your nose and mouth with a mask or scarf. The Ministry of Health have provided advice on their website for the public regarding wearing masks in the community. The Ministry also has advice on how to use a face mask safely.

“When you enter any of our buildings, check in using the Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 Tracer App at the front door. This is to help you record where you have been and when,” says Dr Nightingale.

“And, remember, please don’t visit any of our hospitals or health centres if you don’t need to and always stay home if you’re sick.”

ENDS

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Page last updated: 25 September 2020

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