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

Visitor restrictions eased as Canterbury DHB hospitals, health centres and age-related residential care facilities return to Alert Level 1

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  3. Visitor restrictions eased as Canterbury DHB hospitals, health centres and age-related residential care facilities return to Alert Level 1

Sunday 7 March 2021Media release2 minutes to read

Canterbury DHB hospitals, health centres and age-related residential care facilities return to Alert Level 1

Canterbury DHB hospitals, health centres and age-related residential care facilities return to Alert Level 1

Now that we’re back at Alert Level 1 restrictions on visitors have eased at Canterbury DHB’s heath facilities.

Full details of the Visitor Policy under Alert Level 1 can be found on our COVID-19 information page.  

COVID-19 clinical advisor, infectious diseases physician, Dr Alan Pithie, said everyone visiting any DHB building was still required to check in using the QR code for the government’s COVID-19 Tracer App or sign in manually at the front entrance. 

“Alert Level 1 isn’t Alert Level none – and everyone still needs to play their part to keep up all the good habits which have helped keep the Canterbury community free of COVID for months now. 

These include:

  • Staying home if you’re sick
  • Washing and drying your hands often
  • Using hand sanitiser frequently
  • Seeking health advice if you have any symptoms of COVID-19

You can call your own general practice team or Healthline on 0800 358 5453 for free health advice 24/7

  • Mask use is essential on public transport, including the hospital shuttle
  • Scan, scan, scan, wherever you are, whenever you can – and make sure Bluetooth is switched on within the app.

All health services are being provided as normal, and the Park & Ride shuttle for Christchurch Hospital is now taking the usual number of people – please remember to bring a mask or face covering.

“While it may feel like we’re back to business as usual, it’s important that we don’t let our guard down as a community case could change everything,” Alan Pithie said.

ENDS

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Page last updated: 7 March 2021

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