Information for patients, patient friends and family, and other visitors to hospitals in Canterbury.
Patient visiting hours are listed on each hospital page.
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
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.
If visiting with a large group, please consider others.
Avoid crowding walkways, making too much noise, or entering other patients’ personal space.
Family may visit seriously ill patients at any time with the approval of the nurse in charge. If your friend or family member is very unwell, or English is not their first language, you may be able to stay with them.
However, we encourage visitors to keep to visiting hours (see the hospital page for details of visiting hours) whenever possible to give patients time to rest.
If family members are likely to be away from home, it is important to leave contact telephone numbers with ward staff.
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.
Flowers and potted plants are not allowed in the following wards and units:
Flowers and potted plants are not allowed in the following wards and units:
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.
These visitors need permission to access Canterbury DHB facilities.
Media visiting Canterbury DHB hospitals can find information in the Media Guide page.
Page last updated: 28 January 2019
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