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 Health System preparing for second planned strike by members of the RDA

Thursday 10 November 2016Media 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.

Like all District Health Boards, Canterbury DHB is in the early stages of contingency planning with the focus on ensuring safe care during the 48-hour strike period, when most RDA members are expected to withdraw their services.

On Tuesday (November 8, 2016) the New Zealand Resident Doctors' Association (RDA) issued a strike notice, which confirmed they have directed their members to strike for 48-hours, beginning at 7am on Wednesday 23 November and ending at 7am on Friday 25 November.

It follows a 48 hour strike last month (October 18-19, 2016), which resulted in Canterbury DHB having to postpone and re-book 181 elective surgeries and procedures, and 444 outpatient appointments. Canterbury DHB employs 487 Resident Medical Officers.

David Meates, Canterbury DHB Chief Executive, says providing safe care for patients during the strike is the highest priority for people working in the Canterbury Health System.

“The DHB is prioritising essential and acute services, and so some elective surgeries and outpatient appointments are being rescheduled.”

“People with appointments or surgery booked during the strike period can expect to hear from Canterbury DHB about whether they are affected or not.”

The Emergency Department (ED) at Christchurch Hospital will remain open during the strike.

“We ask people to phone their General Practice team first – unless it's a life-threatening emergency. After-hours when you call your usual general practice number your call will be put through to a nurse who can provide free health advice. If you need to be seen urgently, they will tell you what to do and where to go for carearoundtheclock.”

ENDS

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Page last updated: 19 October 2022

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