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

Surgery and outpatient appointments to go ahead at Canterbury DHB facilities tomorrow

Sunday 14 February 2021Media 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.
Surgery and outpatient appointments to go ahead at Canterbury DHB facilities tomorrow

Surgery and outpatient appointments to go ahead at Canterbury DHB facilities tomorrow

Planned surgery and outpatient appointments will go ahead in Canterbury as planned tomorrow 15 February 2021.

However, if you are sick please stay home and call the number on the appointment letter to let staff know you won’t be attending.

If you have attended any of the locations of interest visited by the new confirmed community cases of COVID-19, please follow the Ministry of Health instructions and call Healthline if you’re not sure what you should do 0800 358 5453

  • Please wear a mask or fabric face covering into hospital.
  • You must sign in using the QR code at the main entrance or sign in manually.
  • Importantly, you must physically distance – stay at least two metres away from people you don’t know,
  • If you are using public transport to get to hospital, you must wear a mask or face covering.
  • Wash and dry your hands frequently, or use hand gel.

If there is any change to your appointment you will be called directly, so if you haven’t heard from us your appointment will be going ahead.

If there are changes to visiting hours these will be finalised tomorrow – however, please don’t come visiting unless it’s essential, and only one support person for outpatient appointments. All visitors must wear a mask or face covering, and use hand gel when entering and leaving the ward.

If you are planning to visit an Age Related Residential Care Facility/Rest Home, please phone first to check visiting hours, and this includes the ARRC facilities operated by Canterbury DHB at Kaikōura Health (Te Hā o Te Ora), Oxford Hospital, Darfield Hospital, Ellesmere Hospital, Waikari Hospital, Tuarangi Home Ashburton.

If you are planning to use the Park & Ride Shuttle, please note that family groups will be carried together in their ‘bubble’ but others will have to be physically distanced, so fewer people will be able to travel on each trip.  Please allow extra time if you’re coming into hospital and remember to bring your masks or face coverings.

Further information on the rules for Alert Level-2 are available on the COVID-19 website

www.covid19.govt.nz/alert-system/alert-level-2/

 

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Page last updated: 19 August 2021

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