HOSPITAL VISITING

Hospital visiting guidelines updated 16 September 2022: Hospital visitors must wear a surgical/medical paper mask. Fabric face coverings are not acceptable. See our COVID-19 pages for detailed information about hospital visiting guidelines, COVID-19 tests and care in the community advice. See www.vaccinatecanterburywestcoast.nz for information about vaccinations.

Last updated:
16 September 2022

 

Mask exemptions accepted for people seeking treatment
Any member of the public with a mask exemption is welcome in all our facilities when attending to receive health care and *treatment. Please show your mask exemption card and appointment letter to staff at the entrance.

*Treatment includes: coming into the Emergency Department, outpatient appointments,  surgery or a procedure.

For visitors to all facilities effective from Friday 16 September 2022

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 people must continue to wear a mask when visiting any of our facilities and follow other advice designed to keep patients, staff and other visitors safe.

Kia whakahaumaru te whānau, me ngā iwi katoa – this is 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 must 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 surgical 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 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 are able to 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, WhatApp 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 must wear a medical mask.

Parents/caregivers are able to be with their child in hospital and visitors other than a parent or caregiver 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

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  3. Transport and parking

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. 

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 unwell, please don’t use the shuttle
  • Passengers are required to wear a medical mask on the shuttle as we often have vulnerable passengers on board
  • The front passenger seat must remain empty, but all other seats may be used
  • 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.

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. 

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

Page last updated: 25 August 2022

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