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 .

UPDATE: Christchurch Hospital staff caring for 30 people injured in terror attack

Tuesday 19 March 2019Media release4 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.

Canterbury DHB Chief Executive, David Meates addressing media today to give an update on the patients in the DHB's care

Please attribute comment to David Meates, Chief Executive, Canterbury District Health Board

30 patients who were injured in the mosque attacks are still in Christchurch Hospital.   One further person was well enough to go home today and is being supported by family and friends. The Canterbury Health System provides wrap around care for people returning to the community after a hospital stay.

There are still 9 people in a critical condition in intensive care. A 4 year old girl is still in a critical condition in Starship Hospital in Auckland. Her father is near her in Auckland City Hospital and his condition has improved so that he is no longer considered serious, and is now stable.

People injured in the mosque attacks are still our priority for surgery and other specialist care but we are also planning ongoing wellbeing and other support for them and their families, for the Muslim community in particular and for the wider community.

As yesterday and over the weekend, we are gearing all available theatres to follow-up acute surgery, which means we will be continuing to postpone planned surgeries for some time to come in order to free up theatre space and surgical teams. We apologise to anyone who may have their surgery postponed, but know they will understand the extraordinary circumstances.

Christchurch Hospital is busier than ever, but with many services operating as normally as possible. Most appointments at Christchurch Outpatients are going ahead as planned. If your appointment has to be postponed, we will contact you directly. We are prioritising the time of the clinicians needed to care for those injured in last Friday’s attack.

As the events of the past few days sink in, it’s important we continue to support one another and look out for those we love more than ever. It is likely that many of us may continue to be on edge and upset periodically for some time to come. This is perfectly normal, and we need to be generous with one another and forgiving, and patient if someone is snappy, emotional or not their usual self.

This advice comes from the Mental Health Foundation and the All right? team. Their messages are based on best-practice wellbeing promotion evidence, and apply to all situations where people are struggling.

There are small things we can do to look after ourselves and others, even when times are tough.

  • Be kind to one another. Kindness is contagious, and boosts endorphins (feel-good hormones) for both the giver and the receiver
  • Take a digital detox, and focus on an activity you love. Reading, games with the kids, or a short walk – getting out into nature is very healing.
  • Spend time with people you love – we all need each other. Talk about how you’re feeling, and take the time to listen to others who want to talk
  • Focus on the things you can control.

Supporting our kids and whānau

  • Children take their cues from parents — so if you’re okay, they’ll be okay too
  • Be mindful how much ‘worry’ you’re displaying, be as cool as you can!
  • Keep children away from more sensational media reports about the Christchurch shootings, but share things that are about the love people show such as the wall of flowers
  • Answer their questions pretty matter-of-factly and in very ‘general’ terms. You don’t have to get the answers exactly right here. Ensure you talk too about the great job the Police do in keeping us safe.
    Keep the reassurance low key too — over-reassuring can make us think we need to be worrying more than we are!
  • Let them talk about it, but don’t let it ‘take over’ – use distraction to keep their mind off it
  • Stick to your normal routines as much as you can.

If you want to talk to a trained counsellor, you can phone or text 1737 to be put through to a counsellor any time of the day or night. This is a free service for everyone.

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Page last updated: 19 October 2022

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