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

Festive fare for patients on Christmas Day

Monday 24 December 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.
WellFood Chef Oliver Fernee preps some of Christchurch Hospital's Christmas Day meals

WellFood Chef Oliver Fernee preps some of Christchurch Hospital's Christmas Day meals

If you thought planning and cooking a Christmas meal for the whanau was a big undertaking, spare a thought for Canterbury DHB’s WellFood team who are busy prepping today for the 1100 Christmas meals they’ll be plating up for patients who find themselves in one of Canterbury’s hospitals on Christmas Day.

The team are also busy preparing over 50 ‘meals on wheels’ that will be served throughout the community tomorrow.

The Christmas menu across our hospitals is going to be a cracker. Patients can choose from two very special lunch and evening menus that will include celebration Christmas ham, succulent roast chicken with cranberry sauce and gravy, roast beef, and a selection of gourmet veges.

The festive fare doesn’t stop there with an assortment of delectable desserts on offer that will include Christmas pudding with brandy sauce, strawberry mousse with whipped cream and a Christmas classic – meringue with fruit salad, custard and whipped cream.

“The festive season is a very special time and it can be hard for patients and their families being away from home on Christmas,” says WellFood Service Manager Neville Patrick.

“That’s why our teams across Canterbury have worked to create a very special menu for patients that will taste and feel just a little bit like home.”

Neville says there will be around 130 staff working in the kitchens, as well as the catering assistants who take orders and serve the food on the hospital wards, and those working in our cafes.

“The service we provide continues 365 days per year, without any let up in demand.”

“We haven’t forgotten the staff either.  As a 24/7 service, many of our staff will be at work while their families are celebrating Christmas, so we have some special treats planned for them as well,” says Neville.

ENDS

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Page last updated: 19 October 2022

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