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

Immunisation Week targets immunisation during pregnancy

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  3. Immunisation Week targets immunisation during pregnancy

Monday 2 May 2016Media 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.

Canterbury is celebrating Immunisation Week on May 2-8 along with the rest of New Zealand with the theme of ‘protecting baby starts in pregnancy'.
Dr Ramon Pink, Canterbury DHB Medical Officer of Health says expectant mums are encouraged to get immunised during pregnancy, it's important to immunise baby on time and enrol early with a midwife and general practice team.

“Get immunised while pregnant. It's the best way to protect you and your baby from serious illnesses such as influenza and whooping cough (pertussis),” Ramon says.

Protection for your baby against vaccine preventable diseases starts with mum. The whooping cough vaccine is available between 32 and 38 weeks of pregnancy. It protects baby until they are fully vaccinated against whooping cough at 6 months of age. (Babies are vaccinated at 6 weeks, 3 months and 5 months).

With the increasing cases of Whooping Cough within our community, it is really important to ensure baby is protected from birth.

Vaccinating for influenza (flu) is important to protect yourself. “Catching the flu during pregnancy can be serious for mothers. Pregnant women are five times more likely to be admitted to hospital when suffering from influenza-related complications than women who are not pregnant. Both these vaccines are free, recommended, and have a proven safety record. Talk to your midwife or general practice team,” Ramon says.

As well as encouragement to immunise pregnant women and baby on time, Immuniusation Week also highlights the role of all health professionals working with new and expectant parents – midwives, practice nurses, general practices and hospital staff.

Frances Mansell, expectant mum to her first child, recently had her influenza vaccination onsite at her workplace and Whooping Cough vaccination at her general practice. Her partner has also been vaccinated for whooping cough (pertussis).

“Being pregnant I am at greater risk of getting influenza and suffering complications. For the sake of a slightly sore arm, why wouldn't you get your vaccination,” she says.

For more information please contact Amy Milne, Media Liaison, Canterbury DHB, amy.milne@cdhb.health.nz or 027 502 7523​

Notes to reporter:
For more information on Immunisation, go to: www.​immune.org.nz, www.health.govt.nz/immunisation or phone 0800 IMMUNE

​​For more information specifically about immunisation during pregnancy:
http://www.health.govt.nz/your-health/healthy-living/immunisation/immunisation-pregnant-women

http://www.immune.org.nz/sites/default/files/resources/ProgrammePregnancyImac20150228V01Final_0.pdf​

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Page last updated: 19 October 2022

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