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

If in doubt – don’t go out: Cantabrians urged to follow health advice when considering attending public events

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Thursday 12 March 2020Media 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.

With a number of gatherings planned to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the events of 15 March 2019 this weekend, Cantabrians are being urged to be vigilant and stay home if they are sick.

If you are unwell, you should not be attending large public gatherings or events.

Canterbury Medical Officer of Health Dr Ramon Pink says the 15 March commemorations this weekend are important for many in the Canterbury community, but it’s vital those considering attending events follow the latest health advice.

“While the Ministry of Health doesn’t propose altering arrangements for public events as a result of COVID-19, the public need to take responsibility for not spreading illness.

“People should be extra vigilant when deciding whether they should attend an event. The basic message is: if you’re sick stay home.

“COVID-19, like the flu, can be spread from person to person. When a person who has COVID-19 coughs, sneezes or talks, they may spread droplets containing the virus a short distance, which quickly settle on surrounding surfaces, so if you are feeling unwell please stay home.

“It’s also a good reminder for everyone to be practicing good hygiene. You should regularly wash and thoroughly dry your hands and use good cough and sneeze etiquette, coughing and sneezing into a tissue, your clothes or the crook of your elbow” says Dr Pink.

People should refer to the Ministry of Health website for the most up to date information and advice on COVID-19: https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus

ENDS

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Page last updated: 30 July 2020

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