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

Transport and parking

Car parking at Christchurch Hospital

There is very limited premium metered car parking in front of the Emergency Department outside the Waipapa building. This is the only public car parking available on-site, and we encourage using this only for emergencies and patient drop-off and pick-up. We recommend that drivers use different nearby car parks or the Deans Avenue Park and Ride Car Park if they need to park longer than 30-60mins.

The first 30 minutes of parking is free  NOTE//  your license plate number must be entered into the parking meter to get 30 minutes free). After 30 minutes the following charges will apply:

  • 30-60 minutes: $7.50
  • From 60 minutes onwards: additional $5 per half hour or part thereof ($80 maximum charge for a 24-hour period).

There are also a number of P180 mobility parking spaces in this area, these are free to use for mobility parking permit holders.

There is limited car parking around Christchurch Hospital including on-street metered parking and a number of paid parking lots in surrounding streets, many of the surrounding car parks are listed on the CCC Parking website.

 TIP//  Using the FREE shuttle bus, from the Deans Avenue car park, or a taxi or a bus may be faster than driving and trying to find a car park space near Christchurch Hospital. There are also several bike parks at Christchurch Hospital.

 NEW//  Tū Waka-Waipapa is a new 463-space car park, located at the corner of St Asaph Street and Hagley Avenue, a 4-5 minute (300 metre) walk from Christchurch Hospital. Find out more.

  • If you are unwell, please don’t use the shuttle
  • Passengers are recommended to wear a medical face mask on the shuttle as we often have vulnerable passengers on board
  • Shuttle passengers are asked to use the hand sanitiser upon entry to the shuttle.

About the shuttle service

The hospital shuttle service runs from the Deans Avenue car park, stopping at Waipapa building Emergency Department entrance, Christchurch Outpatients Building, and the main entrance of Christchurch Hospital.

  • Monday to Friday: Shuttles run between 7.00am and 8.30pm. Drivers have a mandatory 30 minute lunch break around 1.00pm, so there may be some delay at this time.
  • Saturday and Sunday: Shuttles between 10.45am and 8.15pm. No shuttles operate between 2.30pm- 3.00pm on weekends, this is a mandatory break for shuttle drivers.

How to use the shuttle

  • The Deans Ave Car Park, near the Moorhouse Ave end of Deans Ave, is sealed, fenced and lit in the evenings.
  • Please take your ticket from the machine at the barrier arm as you enter the car park, and park anywhere there is a space. You can park for up to 24 hours.
  • As the shuttle service is only for users of the Deans Ave Car Park, please have your ticket ready to show the driver if requested.
  • Make your way to the covered waiting area in the middle of the car park with seating provided. The Hospital Shuttle will pick up from and return here.
  • Parents are responsible for bringing their children's car seats. The shuttle can accommodate prams.

The shuttle is not suitable for wheelchairs. There is mobility car parking on site and near Christchurch Hospital.

Paying for your parking

  • Pay for your parking at one of the pay machines before you return to your car.
  • Payment is available via cash (coins and notes), credit card and eftpos $0.60 transaction fee applies.

Parking costs and time limits

  • Monday to Friday (Day): $5.00 for first four hours parking. $1.50 per 1 hour thereafter or part thereof to a maximum of $15.00
  • Monday to Friday (Nights – Entry after 6pm): Max charge $10.00. Valid until 9am the following morning
  • Weekends: $5.00 for first four hours parking. All day (Valid until 6am the following morning) $10.00.

Shuttle route and car park

The shuttle journey takes around 8-10 minutes depending on traffic.

The car park is a clear walk through Hagley Park to the hospital. This walk takes around 15-20 minutes and there is a sealed footpath all the way.

Our shuttles are clearly marked with the Deans Ave Car Park destination, so please make sure that you get on the correct shuttle.

This is the only shuttle service run by Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora Waitaha Canterbury.

Hospital Shuttle Bus Route from Deans Ave Car Park

To find out if you can get National Travel Assistance, visit the Ministry of Health website.

The National Travel Assistance scheme can assist Te Whatu Ora Waitaha Canterbury registered patients who have to travel outside of Canterbury for their treatment.

To claim travel assistance (if eligible) please contact:

Patient Travel Coordinator
Support Services
Christchurch Hospital
Phone: 03 378 6398
Email: CDHB.Travel@cdhb.health.nz  
Office Hours: 8.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

St John volunteers run three rural shuttles to health-related appointments in Christchurch, and a local shuttle service in Christchurch to assist people getting to their medical appointments in the Christchurch Area. This includes all hospital and doctor’s appointments as well as midwife, dental and rehabilitation appointments.

See the St John Health Shuttle Service section below for details.

If you are from the Canterbury health district but live far away from the hospital, the Ministry of Health may pay all your travel expenses to and from Christchurch.

  • Please discuss this with the Nurse in Charge or Social Worker before you leave hospital.
  • You may also get travel and accommodation funding, depending on the distance from home to the hospital.

See the St John Health Shuttle Service section below for details about free health shuttle services for health-related appointments in Canterbury and Christchurch.

St John Health Shuttle BusSt John volunteers run three shuttles in rural Canterbury, and a local shuttle service in Christchurch to assist people getting to their medical appointments in the Christchurch area. This includes all hospital and doctor’s appointments as well as midwife, dental and rehabilitation appointments. 

The service is free; however, as Hato Hone St John is a charity, any donation is gratefully accepted to assist with running costs.

Christchurch Health Shuttle (for short trips to medical appointments in the Christchurch area)

The St John Health Shuttle service provides people with transport for health-related appointments in Christchurch. The shuttle is a short-distance service that runs multiple daily trips around the city, and operates Monday to Friday. Currently, the shuttle only takes clients who can on-board and off-board independently, but wheelchair accessibility will be an option by mid-February 2023.

The shuttle isn’t a ‘same-day’ service. Bookings are required to have been made before 3pm the day before the appointment. To make a booking please call 0800 103 046

Calling volunteers! Please reach out to 0800 103 046 if you (or someone you know) are interested in joining the service as a volunteer.

To book a seat on the shuttle:
Phone: 0800 103 046
Bookings close at 3pm the day prior to transport.

Aoraki Health Shuttle from Timaru to Christchurch

The St John Health Shuttle service provides people with transport for health-related appointments in Christchurch and operates Monday to Friday for people with medical appointments in Christchurch between 11am and 2pm.

To book a seat on the Aoraki Health Shuttle:
Phone: 0800 103 046
Bookings close at 3pm the day prior to transport.

The St John shuttle stops at: Timaru - Temuka - Geraldine - Christchurch
The shuttle leaves from Timaru at 7:30am and departs Christchurch at 3:00pm (depending on numbers of passengers).
For more information about the Aoraki shuttle bus service, read the Aoraki Health Shuttle Pamphlet (PDF,  400KB)

Ashburton and Rakaia Health Shuttle to Christchurch 

The St John Health Shuttle service provides people with transport for health-related appointments in Christchurch and operates Monday to Friday.

To book a seat on the Ashburton and Rakaia Health Shuttle:
Phone: 0800 103 046
Bookings close at 3pm the day prior to transport.

Pick up / drop off points:

Ashburton Cancer Society, McKenzie Centre, cnr Mona Square and Kermode Street, Ashburton
Departs 9:00am, returns approximately 4:30pm (depending on the number of clients)

Rakaia Four Square, 41 Elizabeth Ave, Rakaia
Departs 9:20am, returns approximately 4:10pm (depending on the number of clients)
For more information about the Ashburton shuttle bus service, read the Ashburton Health Shuttle Pamphlet. (PDF,  400KB)

North Canterbury Health Shuttle to Christchurch 

The St John North Canterbury Health Shuttle service operates Monday to Friday for people with medical appointments starting after 10am and finishing before 3pm.

The St John shuttle stops at: Amberley - Leithfield - Pegasus Town - Woodend - Rangiora - Kaiapoi

To book a seat on the North Canterbury Health Shuttle:
Phone: 0800 103 046
Bookings close at 3pm the day prior to transport.

For information about the St John North Canterbury shuttle bus service, read the North Canterbury Health Shuttle Pamphlet (PDF,  400KB)

 

There are bicycle parks at most of our hospitals, see each hospital location for more details. You can view bike park maps for bike park locations at Christchurch Hospital and Burwood Hospital

Security note: Bike parking is at the owner’s own risk, we strongly advise you to lock your bike securely to a bike stand with a D-lock, and to not use a thin loop of wire / combination lock.

Ashburton Hospital

Burwood Hospital

Christchurch Hospital

Christchurch Women's Hospital

Darfield Hospital

Ellesmere Hospital

Hillmorton Hospital

Kaikōura Health

Oromairaki Community Maternity Unit (Rolleston)

Oxford Hospital

Rangiora Health Hub

The Princess Margaret Hospital

Waikari Hospital

If you are a mobility parking permit holder you can park in one of the designated mobility car parking spaces (indicated by a wheelchair icon on the map below).

There are 17 mobility parking spaces outside the front of Christchurch Hospital, plus 5 directly outside the rear entrance of Christchurch Outpatients on Antigua Street, and 3 near the main entrance on Oxford Terrace. Another 9 mobility parking spaces are available near the Boatshed Café on the Cambridge Terrace/ Rolleston Avenue corner – very close to Christchurch Outpatients and the Emergency Department.

 LocationNumber of mobility spacesParking durationGoogle map directions
Christchurch Hospital Waipapa building car park10 spaces180 minutes maximumGet directions
Christchurch Hospital, near Otago School of Medicine13 spaces180 minutes maximumGet directions
Oxford Terrace in-front of entrance to Christchurch Outpatients building
(Note: This part of Oxford Tce has one way access from Riccarton Ave/Hagley Ave)
3 spaces30 minutes maximumGet directions
Antigua St, next to Christchurch Outpatients building3 spaces120 minutes maximumGet directions
Cambridge Terrace, near Boatshed Cafe3 spaces180 minutes maximumGet directions
Rolleston Avenue, between Cashel St and Hereford St, near the Curators House Restaurant6 spaces120 minutes maximumGet directions

If the mobility parking  map does not display: This Google map is designed to work with up-to-date versions of web browsers such as ChromeFireFoxEdge and Safari, please upgrade or use a different browser if the map does not display .

Page last updated: 1 December 2023

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