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

Supporting mental health in Kaikoura a priority

Friday 18 November 2016Media release3 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.

​Health officials are crediting Kaikoura residents and visitors for their vigilance in preventing a gastro outbreak but are concerned about the high levels of anxiety and stress being experienced in the community.

Dr Ramon Pink, Canterbury Medical Officer of Health, who returned from Kaikoura today, says there are currently no signs of any gastro outbreaks in the area.

“The community and the relief workers have taken to heart the importance of boiling or treating water and hand washing. Everyone needs to keep it up as gastro bugs have the potential to spread like wildfire through a community. With so little clean water available, any gastro bug would be extremely difficult to control,” he says.

Dr Pink acknowledges that this is a very tough time for people in Kaikoura.

“It's a very challenging environment for everyone. What makes things so hard is the fact Kaikoura's so cut off, making it difficult to get supplies in and people out. This is something we didn't have to deal with in the Canterbury quakes of 2010 and 2011.

“I was struck by how strong the community is and how they're coming together to support visitors, as well as each other. While many are pulling up their sleeves, helping others and just getting on with things, support will be required well into the future.

“Mental health staff are in place and providing immediate support but as we've learned from the Canterbury quakes, recovery takes time.”

Dr Pink says as well as immediate concerns like housing, electricity and clean water, residents and local businesses are concerned about what the future holds.

Dr Pink also advises for people to keep out of the sea and rivers during this time because of possible contamination.

“While some surfers are keen to see what surf breaks may be coming following the seabed movement caused by the quakes, they need to avoid the water until it's been cleared of contamination.”

Since Monday, Dr Pink, fellow Medical Officer of Health Dr Alistair Humphrey and four Health Protection Officers, have supported response efforts on the ground in Kaikoura. This work has included checking water supplies, providing hand sanitiser and bleach, promoting public health messages, supporting other agencies involved in the response and reporting back to health authorities on the issues being faced.

In addition to public health staff, the Canterbury DHB has sent about 20 clinical staff to Kaikoura, including two psychologists to support the psychosocial recovery, nurses, allied health, a GP and Pharmacist.

ENDS

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Page last updated: 19 October 2022

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