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 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

COVID-19 tests

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  4. COVID-19 tests

The principal testing method nationally is now a RAT (Rapid Antigen Test), which come in kits - usually five to a pack - designed to be used at home by people who either have symptoms, or are a household contact of someone with COVID-19.

Anyone in Aotearoa New Zealand can get free RATs. You can pick these up from a collection site - see below.

RATs Community Collection Sites (Pre-order required)

To help speed things up at all our RAT collection sites please remember to place your order for RATs before heading to a collection site – and have your order number at the ready.

Orders can be made via the online system at https://requestrats.covid19.health.nz
or by free calling 0800 222 478 to request your RAT tests.

  • RATs are free for people with COVID-19 symptoms or who are a household contact or who’ve been instructed to get tested by a healthcare professional
  • Critical workers who are household contacts

Community Testing Centres and RAT Collection Centres in Christchurch and Canterbury.

At these sites, Rapid Antigen Tests are available. PCR testing is available if clinically indicated, in alignment with the Ministry of Health Testing Strategy.

You can be tested for COVID-19 at a Community Testing Centre (CTC) or your General Practice.

At a testing centre, you will only be tested for COVID-19 – they won’t do a health assessment, so it is important that if you are unwell and need to see a doctor or be assessed, you should contact your GP team as normal.

You do not need a referral to attend a Community Testing Centre. You can drive-up or walk-in.

Please note that testing for the purpose of overseas travel is not government funded. Community Testing Centres do not provide this service, unless specified and costs will apply.

No on-demand or walk-in COVID-19 testing is being carried out at Christchurch Hospital.

Orchard Road COVID-19 Testing & RAT Collection Centre (near Airport) - Closing on Friday 16 December 2022

174 Orchard Road, (Off Harewood Road), Christchurch.
Hours: 9am-4pm, 7 days a week until further notice.

Whānau Ora COVID-19 Testing & RAT Collection Centre (Wainoni) - Closing on Friday 16 December 2022

Location: 250 Pages Road, Wainoni, Christchurch.
Hours: 9am – 3:30pm, 7 days a week. 

Remember to report all your rat results

It’s important that you report every RAT result – negative and positive - on My Covid Record website: https://mycovidrecord.health.nz/ as this helps the Ministry of Health understand the size and trends of the outbreak.

If you need a hand or would prefer to record your result over the phone, you can call 0800 222 478. Parents and caregivers can report the results for tamariki/children via the 0800 numbers. You can ask questions about the process of recording your results by emailing help@mycovidrecord.min.health.nz

The Ministry of Health has produced a video which outlines the process.

Do you know your NHI number?
If heading to one of the testing centres, please take your NHI number with you, as it will help speed things up.

  • Your NHI or National Health Index number can be found on prescription receipts, a medicine bottle, hospital letters and your GP’s patient portal.
  • Your NHI will have 3 letters and 4 numbers e.g. ABC1234
  • It’s not essential – but will save administration time if you have it with you.

Tip// A handy place to store your NHI number is in your phone contacts – useful for future reference.

These pharmacies will be only be fulfilling orders so please remember to place your order for RATs before heading to a collection site – and have your order number ready when you arrive.

Further instructions and service hours for each pharmacy's RATs collection service are listed on their pharmacy page on Healthpoint, links to these pages are below.

Pharmacy/Medical CentreSuburb/TownAddress
Addington PharmacyAddington348 Lincoln Road, Addington, Christchurch
Akaroa PharmacyAkaroa55 Beach Road, Akaroa
Allenton PharmacyAshburton67 Harrison Street, Allenton, Ashburton, Canterbury
Amberley PharmacyAmberley127A Carters Road, Amberley
Bastins Pharmacy St Albans219 Innes Road, Saint Albans, Christchurch
Beckford Health PharmacySt Martins14 Beckford Road, Saint Martins, Christchurch
Burwood PharmacyBurwood11 Parnwell Street, Burwood, Christchurch
Cheviot Community Health CentreCheviot6 Robinson Street, Cheviot
Cranford PharmacySt Albans115 Sherborne Street, St Albans, Christchurch
Darfield PharmacyDarfield58 South Terrace, Darfield
Ewart Douglas PharmacyBryndwr403 Ilam Road, Bryndwr, Christchurch
Hammersley PharmacyEdgeware202 Hills Road, Edgeware, Christchurch
HealthWorks Pharmacy - Hanmer SpringsHanmer Springs7/24 Conical Hill Road, Hanmer Springs
Hei Hei PharmacyHei Hei34 Wycola Avenue, Hei Hei, Christchurch
Hillmorton PharmacyHoon Hay9 Halswell Road, Hoon Hay, Christchurch
Hoon Hay Pharmacy LtdHoon Hay120 Sparks Road, Hoon Hay, Christchurch
Ilam PharmacyIlam209 Waimairi Rd, Ilam, Christchurch
Kaiapoi Crossing PharmacyKaiapoi7/77 Hilton Street, Kaiapoi
Kaiapoi North PharmacyKaiapoi40 Charles Street, Kaiapoi
Kaikōura Health (Te Hā o Te Ora)Kaikōura25 Deal Street, Kaikōura
Kaikōura Pharmacy Kaikōura37 West End, Kaikōura
Kendal PharmacyBurnside64 Kendal Avenue, Burnside, Christchurch
Kiwi Pharmacy - HighstedCasebrook2/118A Claridges Road, Casebrook, Christchurch
Kiwi Pharmacy - YaldhurstYaldhurst3 Filly Place, Yaldhurst, Christchurch
Leeston PharmacyLeeston76 High Street, Leeston
Life Pharmacy BarringtonSpreydonShop 54, Barrington Shopping Centre, 256 Barrington Street, Spreydon, Christchurch
Life Pharmacy HornbyHornbyShop 104, 418 Main South Road, Hornby, Christchurch
Life Pharmacy Merivale (Please use Papanui Rd entrance)Merivale193 Papanui Road, Merivale, Christchurch
Life Pharmacy The PalmsShirleyThe Palms Shopping Centre, 19-21 Marshland Road, Shirley, Christchurch
Lincoln PharmacyLincoln8 Gerald Street, Lincoln
Linwood Village PharmacyChristchurch Central2/384 Worcester Street, Christchurch
Lyttelton PharmacyLyttelton19 London Street, Lyttelton
Marshlands Family PharmacyMarshland427 Marshland Road, Marshland, Christchurch
Methven PharmacyMethven101 Main Street, Methven
Oxford PharmacyOxford49B Main Street, Oxford
Papanui PharmacyStrowan438 Papanui Road, Strowan, Christchurch
Pegasus PharmacyPegasus52 Pegasus Main Street, Pegasus
Pharmacy XtraChristchurch CentralCorner Madras St & Moorhouse Ave, 3/347 Moorhouse Avenue, Christchurch Central
Prebbleton PharmacyPrebbleton 3/563 Springs Road, Prebbleton
QEII PharmacyNorth New Brighton1/251 Travis Road, North New Brighton, Christchurch
Rakaia Health Post and PhotoRakaia68 Elizabeth Avenue, Rakaia
Redcliffs PharmacyRedcliffs87 Main Road, Redcliffs, Christchurch
Redwood PharmacyRedwood282 Main North Road, Redwood, Christchurch
Remedy Pharmacy - RiccartonRiccarton107 Wainui Street, Riccarton, Christchurch
Remedy Pharmacy St Albans (formerly McIntosh Pharmacy)St Albans250 Springfield Road, St Albans. Christchurch
Selwyn Community PharmacyLincoln5B Gerald Street, Lincoln
Selwyn Village PharmacySpreydon316 Selwyn Street, Spreydon, Christchurch
Shields PharmacyPapanui95 Main North Road, Papanui, Christchurch
Shirley DispensaryShirley13 Marshland Road, Shirley, Christchurch
Silverstream Kaiapoi PharmacyKaiapoi10/42 Silverstream Boulevard, Kaiapoi
St Albans PharmacySt Albans1073 Colombo Street, Saint Albans, Christchurch
St Martins PharmacySt MartinsShop 2, 92 Wilsons Road, Saint Martins, Christchurch
Stans 7 Day Pharmacy (Rangiora)Rangiora15 Ashley Street, Rangiora
Tancred Street DispensaryAshburton135 Tancred Street, Ashburton
The Pharmacy @ PhillipstownWaltham270 Ferry Road, Waltham, Christchurch
Unichem Belfast PharmacyBelfast8/812 Main North Road, Belfast, Christchurch
Unichem Cashel PharmacyChristchurch Central111 Cashel Street, Christchurch Central
Unichem Elmwood Pharmacy Strowan3 Normans Road, Strowan, Christchurch
Unichem Ilam Healthworks PharmacyIlam110 Memorial Avenue, Ilam, Christchurch
Unichem Lincoln Road PharmacySpreydon30D Lincoln Road, Spreydon, Christchurch
Unichem Medical Corner PharmacyRangiora237A High Street Rangiora
Unichem Parklands Medical PharmacyParklands345 Mairehau Road, Parklands, Christchurch
Unichem Rolleston Village PharmacyRolleston8/92 Rolleston Drive, Rolleston
Unichem Wigram PharmacyWigramThe Landing, 102 The Runway, Wigram, Christchurch
Union Street Pharmacy, New BrightonNew Brighton18 Union Street, New Brighton, Christchurch
University PharmacyIlamJames Hight Building, University Drive, Ilam, Christchurch
Waikari Health CentreWaikari100 Princes Street, Waikari
Wilson's Barrington PharmacySpreydon256 Barrington Street, Spreydon, Christchurch
Wises PharmacyAshburtonShop 4/155 Wills Street, Ashburton
Woodham Road PharmacyLinwood1/23 Woodham Road, Linwood, Christchurch

Please refer to the Healthpoint website for details about general practices offering COVID-19 testing and vaccinations.

If you require a test before travel overseas you need to contact your General Practice or an Urgent care facility to book an appointment for this. You need to book the test within the timeframe required by the country you are travelling to (usually 3-5 days before travel) and with enough time for the result to come back (usually 48 hours). You will be charged for this test. Costs may vary.

Community Based Testing Centres are not able to perform COVID-19 travel tests because they are unable to take payment onsite.

More information about COVID-19 testing is available on the Unite Against COVID-19 website  

Page last updated: 28 November 2022

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