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

The Countdown Kids Hospital Appeal has begun

Monday 6 August 2018Media 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.

The Countdown Kids Hospital Appeal kicks off today and will run until the end of October.

The nationwide appeal is in its 12th year, raising money for medical equipment for children across the country.

Of the $11.6 million raised since 2007,  $1.2 million has been donated to Canterbury DHB's Child Health Division – funds which make a practical difference to the wellbeing of children in its care.

Seven-year old Keira Hubball and her mother Vickie Hamilton were special guests at last week's launch. Keira suffers from a metabolic condition that means she is in a wheelchair and has recently lost her vision, so she is a regular visitor to Christchurch Hospital.

Countdown Group Manager Penny Hardaker says many of its staff have first-hand experience of hospital visits with their children and there is great enthusiasm and determination to raise funds for such a worthy cause.

Penny's own son contracted meningitis as a 2-year-old and, after years of follow-up care,  she has seen how money raised via community fundraising has enabled the purchase of medical and play equipment to create a better experience for young patients.

This year's appeal will raise funds for medical and play equipment for use throughout the Canterbury Health System.

Clinical Director of Paediatrics at Christchurch Hospital, Clare Doocey, says “the generosity of Countdown staff never fails to amaze and Canterbury DHB greatly appreciates the time and energy they devote to the cause.”

The appeal also sparks friendly supermarket competition, as Stuart Coe, Store Manager Countdown Moorhouse Avenue can attest to, “every Countdown store wants to raise the most money for the kids, but we also help and support other stores with organising fundraising events. This year we're doing things like sausage sizzles, cake sales and a fashion show. Because we know the money is going to a local and noble cause it's easy to get strong support from our customers”.

Keep an eye out for events that may be happening at a Countdown near you.

The appeal runs until 31 October 2018.

To make a donation, you can:

  • visit your local Countdown supermarket and donate at the checkout;
  • visit www.countdown.co.nz to make a donation online; or
  • Text KIDS to 3066 to make a $3 donation (charges apply).

ENDS

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Page last updated: 19 October 2022

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