VISITING HOSPITAL

Hospital visitors must wear a medical paper face mask. Fabric face coverings are not acceptable. Expand this message for more detailed information about hospital visiting guidelines.

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  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 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 must wear a medical 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

Visitors and whānau

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

Unable to visit someone in hospital? We can help you stay connected.

Email your message/pictures to patientlink@cdhb.health.nz stating who it is from, who it is for and which hospital/ward they are in. Our volunteers will make sure your message gets to them.



Visitor restrictions (including people attending outpatient appointments)

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  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 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 must wear a medical 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.

For more details about visiting specific hospitals while COVID-19 restrictions are in place, please see our COVID-19 page.

Patient visiting hours are listed below, more information about hospitals can be found on each hospital page.

HospitalService area/Visitor typeVisiting hours
Ashburton HospitalOpen visiting11am - 2pm and 4pm - 8pm daily
Maternity visitors7am - 10pm daily
Maternity patients family10am - 8pm daily
Palliative Care visitors24 hours/7 days
Burwood HospitalOpen visiting11am - 7pm daily
Christchurch HospitalOpen visiting11am - 1pm and 3pm - 8pm daily
Children's Wards - Parents, caregivers and whanau including siblings24 hours/7 days
Intensive Care Unit (ICU) visitors - Visiting may be restricted to whānau and close friends.24 hours/7 days
Christchurch Women's HospitalOpen visiting10am - 1pm and 3pm - 8pm daily
Partners/husbands visiting the Maternity Ward8am - 9pm daily
Neonatal Unit (NICU) visiting3pm - 8pm daily
Neonatal Unit (NICU) Parents24 hours/7 days
Darfield HospitalOpen visiting11am - 1pm daily and 3pm - 8pm daily
Ellesmere HospitalOpen visiting11am - 1pm daily and 3pm - 8pm daily
Hillmorton HospitalSeager Clinic 10am - 8pm daily
Child, Adolescent & Family Inpatient Unit Call 03 337 7773 for the best time to visit.
Adult Acute Inpatient Service - Te Awakura10am - 8pm daily
Kennedy Detox Unit family, whanau and friendsCall 03 339 1139 to arrange visits.
Tupuna Villa10am - 8pm daily
Psychiatric Service for Adults with Intellectual Disability (PSAID)10am - 8pm daily
Assessment, Treatment & Rehabilitation (AT&R)10am - 8pm daily
Te Whare ManaakiCall 03 337 7969 ext. 33440 to arrange visits.
Te Whare Hohou RokoPlease contact the unit on 03 337 7969 ext. 33962 to arrange visits.
Te Whare Mauri Ora10am - 8pm daily. Please call 03 339 1147 to arrange visits.
Kaikōura HealthVisiting GP admitted inpatients and patients in aged residential care 10am - 12 noon and 3pm - 8pm daily. Or as arranged with nursing staff.
Maternity - Labour and birth support personDuration of birth. Number of support people at labouring persons discretion.
Maternity - Postnatal support person24 hours/7 days. Can change over at any time at māmā discretion.
Maternity - All other visitors Between 3pm - 7pm to enable time for breastfeeding, bonding with pepe and adequate rest for all māmā.
Oromairaki Community Maternity Unit (Rolleston)Maternity - Labour and birth support personDuration of birth. Number of support people at labouring persons discretion.
Maternity - Postnatal support person24 hours/7 days. Can change over at any time at māmā discretion.
Maternity - All other visitorsBetween 3pm - 7pm to enable time for breastfeeding, bonding with pepe and adequate rest for all māmā.
Oxford HospitalOpen visiting11am - 1pm daily and 3pm - 8pm daily.
Rangiora Health HubMaternity - Labour and birth support personDuration of birth. Number of support people at labouring persons discretion.
Maternity - Postnatal support person24 hours/7 days. Can change over at any time at māmā discretion.
Maternity - All other visitors11am - 1pm daily and 3pm - 8pm daily
The Princess Margaret HospitalMothers & Babies Unit / C Ward10am - 8pm daily
Seager Clinic 10am - 8pm daily
Child, Adolescent & Family Inpatient UnitPlease call 03 337 7773 for the best time to visit.
Waikari HospitalOpen visiting11am - 1pm and 3pm - 8pm daily (Unless arranged with Nurse Manager).

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

Unable to visit someone in hospital? We can help you stay connected.

Please email your message/pictures for a patient to patientlink@cdhb.health.nz stating the following:

  1. who it is from
  2. who it is for
  3. the hospital/ward the patient is in

Our volunteers will make sure your message gets to the patient you wish to contact.

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.

Christchurch Hospital

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

  • Ward 10
  • Ward 11
  • Ward 14
  • Ward 17
  • Ward 18
  • Ward 20
  • Ward 24
  • Ward 25
  • Ward A3, Waipapa – General Surgery and Gastroenterology, Surgical Progressive Care Unit (SPCU)
  • Ward A4, Waipapa – Orthopaedics and Trauma Unit 
  • Ward A8, Waipapa – Vascular Surgery and Acute Stroke Unit (ASU)
  • Ward B3, Waipapa – General Surgery and SARA
  • Ward B4, Waipapa – Orthopaedics 
  • Ward B8, Waipapa – Nephrology and Neurosurgery
  • AMAU (Acute Medical Assessment Unit)
  • BMTU (Bone Marrow Transplant Unit)
  • CHOC (Children’s Haematology and Oncology)
  • CICU (Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit)
  • DOSA (Day-of-Surgery Admission)
  • DSU (Day Surgery Unit)
  • ICU (Intensive Care Unit)
  • PHDU (Paediatric High Dependency Unit)
  • UU (Urology Unit)

Christchurch Women's Hospital and Maternity Units

Flowers and potted plants are not allowed in any wards in Christchurch Women’s Hospital.

This includes the Maternity Ward and Birthing Suite and all Community Maternity Units at Rangiora, Selwyn, Ashburton, Kaikoura, Darfield.

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.

Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand Waitaha Canterbury policy does not generally allow pets, dogs, 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

These visitors need permission to access Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand Waitaha Canterbury facilities.

  • Arrange your visit in advance with the person you need to speak to
  • On arrival at reception, complete the Sign-in Register or electronic sign-in and fill in a visitor label to wear
  • Follow Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand Waitaha Canterbury rules and guidelines while on site

Media visiting Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand Waitaha Canterbury hospitals can find information in the Media Guide page.

Page last updated: 9 November 2022

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