VISITING HOSPITAL

All hospital visitors are recommended to wear a medical face mask. Expand this message for information about visiting hospital.

Last updated:
13 March 2023

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

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 are recommended to 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 face 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 face 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 are recommended to wear a medical face 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

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora Waitaha Canterbury Pānui 26 August 2024

Monday 26 August 2024Waitaha Canterbury Pānui2 minutes to read

In this edition of Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora Waitaha Canterbury Pānui

In this week’s issue of Pānui, to celebrate Thank an Orderly day on Tuesday 20 August, we catch up with five new orderlies at Christchurch Hospital to hear about why they’ve chosen this career path and learn about the incredible work they do.

Daffodil Day is coming up on Friday 30 August, so we spoke with Radiation Therapist India Mikaere-Girvin, Multidisciplinary Meeting (MDM) Coordinator Lily Toulson, Kaitiaki Oncology/Surgical Services Theona Ireton, and Social Worker Iris Robertson about why this day is important for them and how we can support the cause.

The Olympic spirit was alive and well in the Pharmacy team – we get a play-by-play of the ‘Pill-lympics’ where activities included a ‘Safe opening relay’, ‘Speed counting’, and ‘Donning and doffing’.

Our Child Health staff at Christchurch Hospital were treated to 170 delicious cupcakes from Ballantynes department store to mark their 170th birthday celebrations. We also hear about the ‘Future of Health’ Disrupt Challenge, held at Manawa. This event involved over 50 undergraduate and graduate students who were invited to be part of ‘imagining a better health system for Ōtautahi’.

Finally, we celebrate the winners of The Health Research Society of Canterbury (HRSC) Annual Poster Evening.

You can read the Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora Waitaha Canterbury Pānui online.

 

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Page last updated: 26 August 2024

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