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

Melbourne travellers asked to get tested and self-isolate

Friday 28 May 2021Media release2 minutes to read

Covid-19

Anyone currently in Canterbury who was in the Greater Melbourne area between May 20-25 must get a COVID-19 test and self-isolate

Due to the community outbreak of COVID-19 in Victoria, anyone who has travelled to and spent time in the Greater Melbourne area between May 20-25 must get a COVID-19 test and self-isolate at home or in the accommodation they are staying in until they return a negative result.

Current locations of interests are available on Victoria Health’s website and there is also a direct link to this website from both the Ministry of Health homepage and the Unite Against COVID-19 homepage.

Canterbury Medical Officer of Health, Dr Cheryl Brunton says testing is free and is available with no referral required at the following locations in Canterbury:

“If you have recently arrived back to or are visiting Canterbury from Melbourne and you’re not sure what you should do, please call Healthline on 0800 358 5453 for advice.

“In addition, if you develop any COVID-19 symptoms, please arrange to get tested immediately and remain isolated at home or in the accommodation you are staying in. This advice extends to everyone even if they haven’t visited any of the locations of interest,” says Dr Brunton.

This is a good reminder that everyone still needs to play their part in keeping up all of the good habits which have helped keep the Canterbury community free of COVID-19 for months now. These include:

  • Staying home if you’re sick
  • Wearing a mask if you need to go anywhere
  • Washing and drying your hands often
  • Using hand sanitiser frequently

Remember to scan, scan, scan using the QR code outside many businesses, including DHB facilities, or keep a diary of where you go and when. This information is useful if we were to have a case and needed to advise the public.

Further information can be found on the DHB’s website at: https://www.cdhb.health.nz/your-health/canterbury-dhb-covid-19-information/

ENDS

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Page last updated: 2 June 2021

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