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 .

Senior doctors strike Tuesday 5 September, 12 midday to 2pm

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Friday 1 September 2023Media 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.

Senior doctors and dentists employed by Te Whatu Ora, who are members of ASMS*, have advised they are planning to strike from 12 midday to 2pm on Tuesday 5 September 2023.

(*The Association of Salaried Medical Specialists is the union for senior medical officers – doctors and dentists).

Te Whatu Ora Waitaha Canterbury has contingency plans in place to ensure continuing safe care for all patients during the two-hour strike period.

  • Emergency and hospital care will be available throughout the strike
  • Anyone staying in hospital during this time will still receive the care and support they need
  • We have an agreement with the unions for senior medical officers to be available to provide Life Preserving Services if needed
  • Te Whatu Ora respects the right of its staff to take industrial action.

If you have an outpatient or surgery appointment

  • If you have an outpatient appointment or surgery appointment on that day, please attend as planned, unless you hear from us
  • We will be contacting anyone whose appointment needs to be rescheduled.

If the strike is called off

  • If the strike is called off, we will contact patients whose outpatient appointment or surgery has been deferred
  • Some appointments may be able to be reinstated to the original time, but this will be decided on a case-by-case basis, and in consultation with patients
  • If you want to check what’s happening, please call the number on your appointment/surgery letter
  • If the strike is called off and you’re unsure about what’s happening, please call the phone number on your appointment letter and someone will be able to advise you.

In an emergency

  • Emergency care will be available throughout the strike period
  • The Emergency Department will remain open
  • If you have a medical emergency, do not delay seeking help
  • Call 111 or go to your nearest emergency department immediately if you or someone else is in a serious or life-threatening condition.

Further industrial action

We have received notice of a further two-hour strike on Wednesday 13 September, from 10am – 12pm. If it goes ahead, we will follow our usual process and contact people directly if their outpatient appointment or surgery needs to be rescheduled.
For more information about the strike and Te Whatu Ora plans visit: https://www.tewhatuora.govt.nz/for-the-health-sector/senior-doctor-and-dentist-strike/

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Page last updated: 26 February 2024

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