VISITING HOSPITAL

All hospital visitors are encouraged to wear a medical face mask. Expand this message for information about visiting hospital. 

Last updated:
31 October 2024

Some visitor restrictions for all Health New Zealand | 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 we encourage 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 are advised to not visit our facilities if they are unwell. We advise that you 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 encouraged to be worn at all sites. Masks will be provided if you don’t have one.
  • Please practice hand hygiene with provided alcohol-based hand rub/gel

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 a surgical mask as a minimum – please use surgical masks provided.

All of our Hospitals

Visiting hours for our hospitals have returned to pre COVID-19 hours.

All visitors are encouraged to wear a medical face mask.

Parents/caregivers can be with their child in hospital and visitors are now allowed, except for the Children’s Haematology and Oncology Day stay where visitor restrictions might apply.

Patients and visitors can also read the additional COVID-19 related visiting guidelines .

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

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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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