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

Cantabrians urged to make bookings to get their boosters

Monday 21 February 2022Media release2 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.

Cantabrians urged to make bookings to get their boosters

Cantabrians are being urged to make bookings to get their boosters as soon as they become eligible, says Tracey Maisey, Incident Controller, Canterbury DHB Emergency Coordination Centre.

“There are plenty of appointments available for vaccinations but it is busy at our vaccination sites,” says Tracey. 

“You can make a booking now for the day you are due your booster – three months from the day you received your second dose. Two shots were great protection against Delta, but boosters are the best way to fight Omicron.

“We are increasing capacity at our Orchard Road vaccination centre but it is now only taking bookings. However other sites such as the vaccination clinic at Ngā Hau e Whā Marae, Barrington Hub and Maui @ South City have capacity to accept walk-ins.

“Other vaccination clinics accepting walk-ins are listed on the VaccinateCanterburyWestCoast.nz website. Please check the opening times before venturing out.

“I would also like to remind people to continue to get tested if they have any symptoms of COVID-19, and to regularly check the Ministry of Health website for locations of interest in Canterbury.”

Bookings are also still highly recommended for 5-11-year old immunisation at the over 70 clinics providing this service. 

“Please continue to be patient if there are wait times and be prepared by bringing drinks, snacks and activities for your children,” says Tracey., 

There are 87,274 appointments available in Book My Vaccine between now and the end of March. 35,267 are appointments that 5-11-year-olds can be booked into.

Parents can also make an appointment for their child directly with their general practice if their GP is vaccinating their enrolled patients. A list of these GPs can be found at VaccinateCanterburyWestCoast.nz.

Selecting the option to book your child’s first dose only will show the earliest available appointments.

The sites with the highest bookable capacity are

  • Barrington Hub (Barrington Mall)
  • Ngā Hau e Whā Marae Vaccination Clinic
  • Orchard Rd
  • Rangiora Durham Health
  • Māui Clinic @ The Hub Hornby
  • Christchurch Arena Drive Through Site
  • Ki te Tihi Hapori Hauora – Eastgate

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Page last updated: 28 February 2024

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