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

Canterbury COVID-19 vaccination rollout makes its way to Aged Residential Care facilities

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  3. Canterbury COVID-19 vaccination rollout makes its way to Aged Residential Care facilities

Thursday 6 May 2021Media release2 minutes to read

Rosewood caregiver Nadia proudly shows off her “I got my vaccine today' sticker!

Canterbury’s COVID-19 vaccination rollout is progressing, with residents in community-based care, including Aged Residential Care (ARC), beginning to receive vaccinations this week. This marks the start of vaccinations for Cantabrians that live in community-based environments where there's a higher risk of COVID-19 spreading, who form part of ‘Group 2’.

One of the first ARC facilities to have some of its residents vaccinated this week was Rosewood Rest Home and Hospital, with a team of Canterbury vaccinators vaccinating around 90 residents and staff at the rest home today.

Executive lead for the DHB’s COVID-19 response, Ralph La Salle says its pleasing to have reached what is another significant milestone in the vaccination rollout.

“As we continue to progress our rollout ahead of plan, we are delighted to have started this important phase which will see some of our most vulnerable people protected against COVID-19,” says Ralph.

It is expected that approximately 5,300 ARC residents will be vaccinated in Canterbury.

Rosewood Manager Di Topschij says it was quite special to see their residents being vaccinated today, which is another symbol of progress in the country’s ongoing response to COVID-19.

“The virus had such an impact on our little community here last year. Having had COVID-19 cases amongst some of our residents, these vaccinations mean a lot to the team here when we reflect on the personal toll of losing some of our beloved community to the virus last year.

“The fact our residents are in the first stages of receiving the additional layer of protection that a COVID-19 vaccination provides – that’s just awesome,” says Di.

The DHB continues to make plans for when we will be rolling out vaccinations to the wider community during the second half of this year, when we’re planning to deliver around 30,000 vaccinations a week.

More information on timing for vaccinations in Canterbury can be found on www.vaccinatecanterburywestcoast.nz. Check out the ‘When will I be vaccinated?’ guide.

ENDS

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Page last updated: 6 May 2021

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