VISITING HOSPITAL

All hospital visitors are encouraged to wear a medical face mask. Expand this message for information about visiting hospital. 

Last updated:
31 October 2024

Some visitor restrictions for all Health New Zealand | 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 we encourage 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 are advised to not visit our facilities if they are unwell. We advise that you 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 encouraged to be worn at all sites. Masks will be provided if you don’t have one.
  • Please practice hand hygiene with provided alcohol-based hand rub/gel

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 a surgical mask as a minimum – please use surgical masks provided.

All of our Hospitals

Visiting hours for our hospitals have returned to pre COVID-19 hours.

All visitors are encouraged to wear a medical face mask.

Parents/caregivers can be with their child in hospital and visitors are now allowed, except for the Children’s Haematology and Oncology Day stay where visitor restrictions might apply.

Patients and visitors can also read the additional COVID-19 related visiting guidelines .

Don’t let measles ruin your holiday – make sure your whānau’s vaccinations are up to date

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  3. Don’t let measles ruin your holiday – make sure your whānau’s vaccinations are up to date

Thursday 12 December 2019Media 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THIS IS AN ARCHIVED PAGE. The advice and information contained in this page may not be current and it should only be used for historical reference purposes.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 are being reminded to make sure theirs and their Whanau's vaccinations are up to date before travelling this summer

Cantabrians are being reminded to make sure theirs and their Whanau's vaccinations are up to date before travelling this summer

With the Christmas and New Year holidays fast approaching, you may have an overseas trip planned and be counting down to the day you jet off to an exotic location.

However, with measles currently spreading in popular holiday destinations there is cause for extra vigilance when travelling overseas this summer.

Canterbury Medical Officer of Health Dr Ramon Pink says we are currently measles-free in Canterbury and we’d like to keep it that way. People should avoid bringing unwanted illness back home from their holidays.

“If you’re travelling to Samoa, Tonga, the Philippines or Fiji and you’re aged under 50, check that your vaccinations are up to date to prevent becoming unwell while on holiday, and risking bringing measles back to Canterbury.

“Measles vaccinations are free for those aged under 50 who are travelling to an area where there is a measles outbreak. Current outbreak regions can be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website,” says Dr Pink.

Over the Christmas and New Year break many friends and relatives will visit our region, so it is important to make sure your whānau and those visiting are immunised too.

Dr Pink says vaccination is the best protection against measles. 

“This is especially important for children who haven’t had their MMR vaccinations – scheduled at 15 months and four years. These children, and those travelling to an area where this is an outbreak are currently top priority for vaccination,” says Dr Pink.

As the measles vaccination takes up to two weeks to provide protection, don’t leave it until the last minute. Call your general practice team and check whether you and your family are all up to date with your vaccinations before you travel this summer.

Anyone with measles symptoms or who believes they may have been exposed, can contact their usual general practice 24/7 for additional advice, no matter where they are. If people call their GP team after hours they can be put through to a nurse who can provide free health advice and advise what to do.

ENDS

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Page last updated: 17 February 2022

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