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

Keep ED for emergencies only as moving day is tomorrow

Tuesday 17 November 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.

The new ED at Waipapa will open tomorrow (entrance highlighted)

“Keep the Emergency Department for emergencies only” is the message from clinicians as the Canterbury DHB prepares to relocate the busy department.

From 7.30am tomorrow, Wednesday November 18, Christchurch Hospital’s Emergency Department (ED) will be located on the ground floor of Waipapa – Christchurch Hospital, Hagley next to Christchurch Women’s Hospital.

The time-restricted (30 minutes max) emergency drop-off­ and pick-up parking in front of the new ED will also open at 7:30am tomorrow. To access the new drop-off parking, turn left in front of Christchurch Women’s Hospital when driving in off­ Riccarton Ave. New mobility parking is also available.

Moving equipment and some office staff has already occurred in the lead-up to the move.

ED Clinical Director, Dr David Richards, is asking that only patients with urgent and serious medical issues come to ED.

“It would be incredibly helpful if people make use of their own GP team or go to one of Christchurch’s three urgent care centres. This will enable staff to focus on only those who really need emergency care and carry out a safe and successful move.

“On Sunday 15 November, hospital emergency staff treated 359 people, a record number for a single day (where a large-scale emergency event didn’t take place). The week prior was also a record week for presentations to ED,” says Dr Richards.

Patients who don’t have serious emergency needs are being urged to make their GP the first port of call. A reminder that for care around the clock, people in Canterbury can call their own General Practice team for free heath advice from a nurse after hours.

Christchurch Hospital’s ED is the sole emergency medical facility in the city and one of the busiest in Australasia.

People are encouraged to visit www.cdhb.health.nz to familiarise themselves with the location of the new Emergency Department and other acute services which are also relocating.

The three extended-hours Urgent Care practices in Canterbury are:

  • 24 Hour Surgery – 401 Madras Street open every day, 24/7. Ph 03 365 7777
  • Moorhouse Medical – 3 Pilgrim Place. Open 8am – 8pm, 7 days a week. Ph 03 365 7900
  • Riccarton Clinic – 4 Yaldhurst Road. Open 8am – 8pm, 7 days a week. Ph 03 343 3661

ENDS

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Page last updated: 17 April 2023

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