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

Canterbury measles update – 30 cases and one under investigation

Tuesday 19 March 2019Media 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.

A Canterbury midwife receives her MMR vaccine while holding her own beautiful baby

The number of confirmed measles cases in Canterbury now stands at 30, with one under investigation.

Canterbury Medical Officer of Health Dr Ramon Pink says measles numbers continue to increase in Canterbury.  

“Measles is incredibly infectious and continues to circulate in our community. The only way to prevent its spread is immunisation.”

Dr Pink says there remains a risk of measles spreading when large groups congregate together.

“If you were born after 1969 and feel unwell with measles-like symptoms, or have never been vaccinated against measles, you should stay away from large gatherings as you will be at risk of catching measles.  

“And if you think you may have been exposed to measles or have symptoms, please call your general practice first, 24/7. Please do not visit your general practice or use public transport as you may be infectious.”

Dr Pink says 27,000 doses of the MMR vaccine arrived in Canterbury last week.

“We have enough vaccines to immunise those who need it most – people aged between 12 months and 28 years who have never been immunised.”

Over time the vaccine will be made available to other priority groups.
  
The symptoms of measles are a cough or runny nose or conjunctivitis, and a fever above 38.5 C, and a rash. 

More information about measles is available at https://www.health.govt.nz/your-health/conditions-and-treatments/diseases-and-illnesses/measles and http://www.immune.org.nz/.

Please note: that due to the ongoing response to Friday’s terror attacks, we will only hold a media briefing if there is something significant to report. 

ENDS

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Page last updated: 30 July 2020

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