ORANGE

Hospital visitors don’t need a Vaccine Pass, but must wear a surgical/medical paper mask. Fabric face coverings are no longer acceptable. See our COVID-19 pages for visiting guidelines, COVID-19 tests current case numbers in regions of Canterbury and care in the community advice. See www.vaccinatecanterburywestcoast.nz for info about vaccinations.

We are at ORANGE according to the NZ COVID-19 Protection Framework

Last updated:
19 April 2022

For visitors to all facilities effective from Tuesday 19 April 2022

With the change to the ORANGE Traffic Light setting, Canterbury DHB is easing its visitor policy in recognition of the fact we have passed the peak of the current Omicron outbreak and case numbers are slowly reducing.

The following visitor restrictions are now in place for all Canterbury DHB hospitals and health facilities:

  • One adult visitor may be accompanied by no more than one child over the age of 12 per patient in the hospital at any given time, except where stated otherwise in the ‘exceptions’ section below.  No children under 12 and those 12 and over must be accompanied by an adult and wear a medical mask.
  • Visitors or support people should not visit our facilities if they are unwell.
  • Surgical/medical masks must be worn at all times at all Canterbury DHB sites and will be provided if people don’t have them.
  • Hand sanitiser stations are visible and must be used.

By adhering to these conditions, you help keep our patients, staff, other visitors and yourself safe. We 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.

Exceptions to the ‘one visitor’ policy

  • Exceptions can apply in some circumstances (ie more than one visitor) where a trusted whānau member provides assistance, reassurance and other support for therapeutic care or on compassionate grounds – please talk to the ward’s Charge Nurse to discuss this before you come to hospital to visit. For whānau with an essential support role as a Partner in Care – please check with the ward’s Charge Nurse before you come to hospital to visit
  • People attending Christchurch ED or Ashburton AAU can have one support person with them
  • Women in labour and in the birthing suite can have two support people, and women on the Maternity Ward are allowed one support person for the duration of their stay in our facilities at Christchurch Womens Hospital and other maternity units. Only one support person can be with each woman in the maternity ward, and one support person for maternity clinic appointments, no children are allowed to visit.
  • Parents/caregivers can be with their baby in NICU.
  • Parents/caregivers are able to be with their child in hospital (Except Children’s Haematology and Oncology Day patients where only one parent or caregiver is permitted, following a supervised negative RAT result)
  • Children who are inpatients, one other visitor (other than a parent or caregiver) is able to visit in consultation with the nurse in charge.
  • People requiring support when attending an appointment can have one support person. Please let the relevant service know if you need this so they are able to accommodate your request.

Exceptions for people with disabilities

An exception will be made for people with disabilities who are in hospital or have to attend an outpatient appointment – where they need a support person to access health services. For example, a sign language interpreter, support person for someone with a learning disability, or someone to assist with mobility. The support person is in addition to the one permitted visitor.

Face covering exemption cards

The Exemptions Team at the Ministry of Health is now responsible for processing requests for Face Covering Communication Cards.

Updated information about mask wearing, and how to request an exemption card can now be found here. People unable to request an exemption card online can call 0800 28 29 26 and select option 2, or text 8988

Patients and visitors should also read the additional more detailed visiting guidelines for each specific hospital.

More COVID-19 information

Transport and parking

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Car parking at Christchurch Hospital

There is very limited metered parking in front of the Waipapa building that we encourage is used for patient drop-off and pick-up only.

The first 30 minutes of parking is 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 parks in this area. These parks are free for 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 car parks in listed on the CCC 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.

 

See hospital pages for details about car parking at all our hospitals.

More details on patient and visitor car parking at Christchurch Hospital.

  • If you are unwell please don’t use the shuttle.
  • Shuttle passengers are asked to use the hand sanitiser upon entry to the shuttle.
  • The front passenger seat must remain empty.
  •  It is mandatory for all passengers over the age of 12 to wear surgical/medical masks on the shuttle, unless you have an exemption.

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.

Shuttles run every 15 minutes from:

  • Monday to Friday: Shuttles run between 6.15am and 8.30pm. Drivers have a mandatory 30 minute lunch break around 1pm, there may be some delay at this time.
  • Saturday and Sunday: Shuttles between 11am and 8pm. No shuttles operate between 2.30pm- 3.15pm 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 Canterbury District Health Board.

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 Canterbury DHB-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.

 

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.

St John volunteers run two rural shuttles to hospitals. St John does not charge a fee for this service, but it does accept donations to help cover costs.

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 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 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 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 a bike park map for bike park locations at Christchurch Hospital. 

Page last updated: 27 January 2022

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