ORANGE

Hospital visitors don’t need a Vaccine Pass, but must wear a surgical/medical paper mask. Fabric face coverings are no longer acceptable. See our COVID-19 pages for visiting guidelines, COVID-19 tests current case numbers in regions of Canterbury and care in the community advice. See www.vaccinatecanterburywestcoast.nz for info about vaccinations.

We are at ORANGE according to the NZ COVID-19 Protection Framework

Last updated:
19 April 2022

For visitors to all facilities effective from Tuesday 19 April 2022

With the change to the ORANGE Traffic Light setting, Canterbury DHB is easing its visitor policy in recognition of the fact we have passed the peak of the current Omicron outbreak and case numbers are slowly reducing.

The following visitor restrictions are now in place for all Canterbury DHB hospitals and health facilities:

  • One adult visitor may be accompanied by no more than one child over the age of 12 per patient in the hospital at any given time, except where stated otherwise in the ‘exceptions’ section below.  No children under 12 and those 12 and over must be accompanied by an adult and wear a medical mask.
  • Visitors or support people should not visit our facilities if they are unwell.
  • Surgical/medical masks must be worn at all times at all Canterbury DHB sites and will be provided if people don’t have them.
  • Hand sanitiser stations are visible and must be used.

By adhering to these conditions, you help keep our patients, staff, other visitors and yourself safe. We 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.

Exceptions to the ‘one visitor’ policy

  • Exceptions can apply in some circumstances (ie more than one visitor) where a trusted whānau member provides assistance, reassurance and other support for therapeutic care or on compassionate grounds – please talk to the ward’s Charge Nurse to discuss this before you come to hospital to visit. For whānau with an essential support role as a Partner in Care – please check with the ward’s Charge Nurse before you come to hospital to visit
  • People attending Christchurch ED or Ashburton AAU can have one support person with them
  • Women in labour and in the birthing suite can have two support people, and women on the Maternity Ward are allowed one support person for the duration of their stay in our facilities at Christchurch Womens Hospital. Only one support person can be with each woman in the maternity ward, and one support person for maternity clinic appointments, no children are allowed to visit.
  • Parents/caregivers can be with their baby in NICU.
  • Parents/caregivers are able to be with their child in hospital (Except Children’s Haematology and Oncology Day patients where only one parent or caregiver is permitted, following a supervised negative RAT result)
  • Children who are inpatients, one other visitor (other than a parent or caregiver) is able to visit in consultation with the nurse in charge.
  • People requiring support when attending an appointment can have one support person. Please let the relevant service know if you need this so they are able to accommodate your request.

Exceptions for people with disabilities

An exception will be made for people with disabilities who are in hospital or have to attend an outpatient appointment – where they need a support person to access health services. For example, a sign language interpreter, support person for someone with a learning disability, or someone to assist with mobility. The support person is in addition to the one permitted visitor.

Face covering exemption cards

The Exemptions Team at the Ministry of Health is now responsible for processing requests for Face Covering Communication Cards.

Updated information about mask wearing, and how to request an exemption card can now be found here. People unable to request an exemption card online can call 0800 28 29 26 and select option 2, or text 8988

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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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. For this reason, our test sites are largely geared up for drive-through collection of RATs. RAT kits are free at DHB testing centres, General Practices and some pharmacies (see list below).

PCR tests can still be carried out by a trained health professional at our Orchard Road, Wigram, Whānau Ora and Ashburton sites, but only for people who have been referred for that kind of test (by their GP for example) or people who are immunocompromised and therefore need the added reassurance of a PCR test, which is more accurate.

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 been instructed to get tested by a healthcare professional
  • Critical workers who are household contacts
  • Border workers who are required to be tested under the Required Testing Order

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

As staffing resources allow, further RAT Collection sites will be set up in other areas.

Note that you may need to wait if it’s busy. Our staff are doing their very best to provide RATs to everyone who needs them as quickly as possible. They deserve respect and kindness while they do their work.

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

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 eg. 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.

Orchard Road Covid-19 Testing & RAT Collection Centre (near Airport)

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),

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

Wigram COVID-19 Testing & RAT Collection Centre - Closed

Please note: The Wigram RAT collection site closed down on Friday 8 April 2022.
Location: 35 Mustang Avenue, old Wigram Fire Station on the corner of Mustang and Sioux Avenues 
Hours: This collection centre is now closed until further notice.

Christchurch Arena RAT Collection Centre - Closed

Location: 55 Jack Hinton Drive, Addington. 
Hours: This collection centre is now closed until further notice.

 Updated!  Ashburton COVID-19 Testing & RAT Collection

Location: The testing centre at Ashburton Hospital has closed and relocated to the former ACL Building, at 48 South Street, Ashburton - entry off Cass Street).
Hours: 10am-2pm, 7 days a week.

Rolleston Covid-19 RAT Collection Centre 

Please note: This is not a drive-through site, there is car parking available on site for people to walk up and collect their pre-ordered RATs from the marquee. Car parking can be in high demand between 2.45-3.15pm due to school pick-ups.
Location: Northern end of the Selwyn Health Hub - Norman Kirk Drive, Rolleston.
Hours: 1pm-5pm Monday to Friday only. *These hours may be subject to change at short notice

Waimakariri Community Collection Site  - Closed

Location: Waimakariri Hockey Turf, at 291 Coldstream Road, Rangiora.
Hours: This collection centre is now closed until further notice.

Pharmacy and Medical Centre RAT Collection Sites

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 CentreAddress
Addington Pharmacy348 Lincoln Road, Addington,, Christchurch
Akaroa Pharmacy55 Beach Road, Akaroa
Amberley Pharmacy127A Carters Road, Amberley
Beckford Health Pharmacy14 Beckford Road, Saint Martins, Christchurch
Burwood Pharmacy11 Parnwell Street, Burwood, Christchurch
Cheviot Community Health Centre6 Robinson Street, Cheviot
Darfield Pharmacy58 South Terrace, Darfield
Ewart Douglas Pharmacy403 Ilam Road, Bryndwr, Christchurch
Hammersley Pharmacy202 Hills Road, Edgeware, Christchurch
HealthWorks Pharmacy - Hanmer Springs7/24 Conical Hill Road, Hanmer Springs
Hei Hei Pharmacy34 Wycola Avenue, Hei Hei, Christchurch
Hillmorton Pharmacy9 Halswell Road, Hoon Hay, Christchurch
Hoon Hay Pharmacy Ltd120 Sparks Road, Hoon Hay, Christchurch
Ilam Pharmacy209 Waimairi Rd, Ilam, Christchurch
Kaiapoi Crossing Pharmacy7/77 Hilton Street, Kaiapoi
Kaiapoi North Pharmacy40 Charles Street, Kaiapoi
Kaikōura Health (Te Hā o Te Ora)25 Deal Street, Kaikōura
Kendal Pharmacy64 Kendal Avenue, Burnside, Christchurch
Kiwi Pharmacy - Highsted2/118A Claridges Road, Casebrook, Christchurch
Kiwi Pharmacy - Yaldhurst3 Filly Place, Yaldhurst, Christchurch
Leeston Pharmacy76 High Street, Leeston
Life Pharmacy Merivale (Please use Papanui Rd entrance)193 Papanui Road, Merivale, Christchurch
Lincoln Pharmacy8 Gerald Street, Lincoln
Linwood Village Pharmacy2/384 Worcester Street, Christchurch
Methven Pharmacy101 Main Street, Methven
Oxford Pharmacy49B Main Street, Oxford
Papanui Pharmacy438 Papanui Road, Strowan, Christchurch
Pegasus Pharmacy52 Pegasus Main Street, Pegasus
Pharmacy XtraCorner Madras St & Moorhouse Ave, 3/347 Moorhouse Avenue, Christchurch Central
QEII Pharmacy1/251 Travis Road, North New Brighton, Christchurch
Rakaia Health Post and Photo68 Elizabeth Avenue, Rakaia
Redcliffs Pharmacy87 Main Road, Redcliffs, Christchurch
Remedy Pharmacy - Riccarton107 Wainui Street, Riccarton, Christchurch
Remedy Pharmacy St Albans (formerly McIntosh Pharmacy)250 Springfield Road, St Albans. Christchurch
Selwyn Village Pharmacy316 Selwyn Street, Spreydon, Christchurch
Shields Pharmacy95 Main North Road, Papanui, Christchurch
Shirley Dispensary13 Marshland Road, Shirley, Christchurch
Silverstream Kaiapoi Pharmacy10/42 Silverstream Boulevard, Kaiapoi
Stans 7 Day Pharmacy (Rangiora)15 Ashley Street, Rangiora
Tancred Street Dispensary135 Tancred Street, Ashburton
The Pharmacy @ Phillipstown270 Ferry Road, Waltham, Christchurch
Unichem Cashel Pharmacy111 Cashel Street, Christchurch Central
Unichem Ilam Healthworks Pharmacy110 Memorial Avenue, Ilam, Christchurch
Unichem Lincoln Road Pharmacy30D Lincoln Road, Spreydon, Christchurch
Unichem Medical Corner Pharmacy237A High Street Rangiora
Unichem Parklands Medical Pharmacy345 Mairehau Road, Parklands, Christchurch
Unichem Rolleston Village Pharmacy8/92 Rolleston Drive, Rolleston
Unichem Wigram PharmacyThe Landing, 102 The Runway, Wigram, Christchurch
Union Street Pharmacy, New Brighton18 Union Street, New Brighton, Christchurch
University PharmacyJames Hight Building, University Drive, Ilam, Christchurch
Waikari Health Centre100 Princes Street, Waikari
Wilson's Barrington Pharmacy256 Barrington Street, Spreydon, 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: 24 May 2022

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