COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

Information about changes at hospitals and health centres can be found at www.cdhb.health.nz/covid19

VISITORS TO HOSPITAL

Updated - effective from 14 May 2020 until further notice. Under COVID-19 Alert Level 2 visitor access to health facilities continues to be restricted.– details for all facilities...

Last updated:
29 April 2020

Please remember, limiting our interactions with others is our best defence against COVID-19. Please don’t visit the hospital if you don’t need to. The following level 2 visitor restrictions are in place for all Canterbury DHB health facilities:

  • Visitors will be screened and asked to provide contact details upon arrival
  • Visitors who are unwell or have suspicion of COVID-19 will not be able to enter
  • Aged residential care: no visitors, however, family visits for palliative care residents who do not have COVID-19 will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Specific and detailed visitor restrictions that apply to each hospital are available on our COVID-19 page.

Visitors and family

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Information for patients, patient friends and family, and other visitors to hospitals in Canterbury.

Restricted visiting to hospitals from 14 May 2020 until further notice

Under COVID-19 Alert Level 2 visitor access for all Canterbury DHB health facilities will continue to be restricted. Please remember, limiting our interactions with others is our best defence against COVID-19. Please don’t visit the hospital if you don’t need to. The following visitor restrictions are in place for all Canterbury DHB health facilities:

  • Visitors will be screened and asked to provide contact details upon arrival
  • Visitors who are unwell or have suspicion of COVID-19 will not be able to enter
  • Aged residential care: no visitors, however, family visits for palliative care residents who do not have COVID-19 will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Specific and detailed visitor restrictions that apply to each hospital are available on our COVID-19 page.

To those whanau members who would normally visit their family member in hospital

We are sorry that we have to restrict visiting, but this necessary measure is to protect you and the vulnerable people already in hospital from the spread of COVID-19.

We understand it will be difficult for you to be unable to provide the support you normally would, but please be assured people are being well cared for and we will do our best to help you keep up-to-date and in touch.

For those who don’t have their own phone or device, each ward has a simple portable phone (not a smartphone) they will be able to use. If you want to know how a patient is, please call our patient enquiry phone line.

Patient visiting hours are listed on each hospital page.

Ashburton Hospital

Burwood Hospital

Christchurch Hospital

Christchurch Women's Hospital

Hillmorton Hospital

Kaikōura Health

The Princess Margaret Hospital

ALL hospitals and health facilities

To find out about a patient in hospital, please call the hospitals patient enquiries number.

Ashburton Hospital: 03 307 8450

Burwood Hospital: 03 383 6836

Christchurch Hospital: 03 364 0600

Christchurch Women’s Hospital: 03 364 4309

Hillmorton Hospital: 03 337 7969

Kaikōura Health: 03 319 3500

The Princess Margaret Hospital: 03 337 7800

ALL other hospitals and health facilities

 

If you are visiting a patient

  • Do not visit if you are feeling sick. If you have recently had sickness including coughs, colds, influenza (flu) or diarrhoea, please do not visit until you have been healthy for at least two days unless nursing staff say it is OK.
  • Cover up any open wounds or cuts
  • Clean your hands! If your hands are dirty or you have used the toilet, wash your hands thoroughly. You can also use the alcohol hand rub freely available from the hand hygiene stations in the hospital foyers or at the entrances to all wards and clinics.
  • Do not touch the patient’s wounds, bandages, dressings, or medical equipment.
  • Do not clutter. Help staff keep areas clean by only bringing essential items into the hospital and taking away things that are not required.

Staff may ask visitors to leave the patient from time to time while the patient is receiving clinical care.

If visitors’ behaviour is inappropriate, inconsiderate or threatening, staff will ask visitors to leave Canterbury DHB premises.

See this poster about how to keep patients safe while you visit them.

Please refer to our COVID-19 page for detailed visitor advice and restrictions.

Please refer to our COVID-19 page for detailed visitor advice and restrictions.

It is not possible to have flowers in some hospital areas. If you are thinking of purchasing flowers please ask the hospital volunteers in the gift shop first.

Gift shops also sell flower vouchers, for flowers to be delivered when the patient goes home.

Christchurch Hospital

Flowers and potted plants are not allowed in the following wards and units:

  • Ward 10
  • Ward 11
  • Ward 15 and SPCU (Special Progressive Care Unit)
  • Ward 16 and SARA (Surgical Assessment and Review)
  • Ward 17
  • Ward 18
  • Ward 19 and OTU (Orthopaedic Trauma Unit)
  • Ward 20
  • Ward 24
  • Ward 25
  • Ward 28
  • BMTU (Bone Marrow Transplant Unit)
  • CHOC (Children’s Haematology and Oncology)
  • CICU (Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit)
  • DOSA (Day-of-Surgery Admission)
  • ICU (Intensive Care Unit)
  • PHDU (Paediatric High Dependency Unit)
  • UU (Urology Unit)
  • DSU (Day Surgery Unit)
  • AMAU (Acute Medical Assessment Unit)

Burwood Hospital

Flowers and potted plants are not allowed in the following wards and units:

  • Admitting Unit
  • PACU (Post-Anaesthetic Care Unit) (Recovery)
  • Progressive Care Unit
  • Check with ward staff Ward FG (Spinal Unit) and Ward CG (Brain Injury)

Staff flower deliveries

It is not possible to deliver flowers to staff during work. Staff must collect their flower delivery at the end of their shift on their way home.

 

Canterbury DHB policy does not generally allow dogs, pets or other animals, apart from service animals (e.g. guide dog, therapy animals), into our hospital facilities.

There may be exceptions in some rehabilitation areas and special circumstances by prior arrangement with ward staff.

If wishing to visit with animals

  • You must first discuss and agree the animal visit with staff
  • If a visit is possible, you are responsible for the animal at all times
  • No animal visits are possible during meal times
  • Animals are not allowed in public cafeterias and cafes
  • Dogs need to be on a lead at all times

COVID-19 restrictions (Updated on 14 May 2020)

People wishing to enter a DHB facility for business purposes can now do so under Alert Level 2. This may include company representatives providing support for services, maintenance and engineer suppliers, or colleagues from external organisations. They must sign in and have a health check on arrival and on each subsequent visit. They are expected to adhere to physical distancing, hand hygiene and cough/sneeze etiquette at all times.

Media visiting Canterbury DHB hospitals can find information in the Media Guide page.

Page last updated: 15 May 2020

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