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

COVID-19 testing locations over Christmas weekend

Friday 24 December 2021Media 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.

COVID-19 testing locations over Christmas weekend

Locations of interest in relation to today’s case will be posted to the Ministry of Health website.

Every new COVID-19 positive case is an urgent reminder to get tested if you’re feeling unwell. Testing at high numbers will help to minimise and contain the spread of COVID-19 in Christchurch.

Access to COVID testing will still be available over the Christmas weekend. Community based testing locations throughout Canterbury can be found on the Canterbury DHB and Healthpoint websites. The 24 Hour Surgery is not a COVID-19 testing centre.

Orchard Road COVID-19 testing centre, 174 Orchard Road, Harewood, Christchurch (near Airport) is open on CHRISTMAS DAY from 8:00AM to 12:00PM. and then on BOXING DAY from 9.00am to 4.00pm.

Whānau Ora Community Clinic, 250 Pages Road, Wainoni, Christchurch is open on CHRISTMAS DAY from 10:00AM to 2:00PM and then on BOXING DAY from 9.00am to 3.30pm.

If you have been at a location of interest and remain symptom free then monitor your symptoms for 14 days and get a test if you start to feel unwell or are asked to get tested because you are a close contract.

It is still possible to get your COVID-19 vaccination. If you haven’t had your first dose yet, or are overdue for your second dose, check https://vaccinatecanterburywestcoast.nz/vaccination-clinics-and-the-holidays/ to see which vaccination clinics are open in Canterbury this Christmas weekend.

ENDS

Tags

Related topics

Back to Health News

Page last updated: 27 February 2024

Is this page useful?