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 can also read the additional COVID-19 related visiting guidelines .

Emergency dental care: Where to go

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  6. Emergency dental care: Where to go

If you or a family member has a very painful toothache or an injury to your teeth or gums, get help as soon as possible.

For serious problems that occur after hours or on weekends, you may need to contact an after-hours dentist, see below.

Some hospitals can deal with dental emergencies, but this should be your last option. You will likely have to follow up with a dentist later.

The Ministry of Health also has some tips on how to get emergency dental care.

After hours & Emergency Dentists in Christchurch

The following private dentists in Christchurch have identified that they are open late night and some weekends and public holidays for emergency dental appointments. Note: These services are not associated with Te Whatu Ora. 

  • Please see each dentists website for more and information about their specific late night/weekend opening hours.
  • Please phone the dentist to book a dental appointment.


Practice nameLocationPhone number
Garden City DentalCentral Christchurch03 379 6222
Loxo DentalPapanui, Christchurch03 354 9549
Pathway DentalChristchurch03 366 8866
Team Dental RiccartonChristchurch03 341 1122

Subsidised urgent care from a private dentist

Some private dentists have a contract with Te Whatu Ora to provide subsidised urgent care for people who have a Community Services Card. To use this service you must live in Canterbury and have a current Community Services Card. The emergency dental care is for a one-off treatment of a problem. If you need further dental care, you'll have to pay the dentist’s usual fees for this.

Participating dental practices provide a 30-minute visit, where a dentist will assess the dental problem and provide any necessary dental treatment.

Note: If the dentist decides that your dental condition doesn't meet the definition of a dental emergency, they'll charge their usual fees. You will need to pay a co-payment of up to $40 a visit under this scheme.

Participating dental practices in Canterbury

Practice nameAddressPhone number
Colombo Street Dental201 Colombo St, Sydenham, Christchurch03 337 4596
Halswell Dental284 Halswell Rd, Halswell, Christchurch03 322 9577
Hornby Dental5 Tower St, Hornby, Christchurch03 349 5059
Hoon Hay Dental Surgery14 A Lincoln Road, Hoonhay, Christchurch03 338 9101
Redwood Family Dentists186 Main North Rd, Redwood, Christchurch03 352 6186
Richmond Dental45 North Avon Rd, Richmond, Christchurch03 389 5923
Peter Van Kuijk129 Williams St, Kaiapoi03 327 7199

WINZ emergency grant

WINZ beneficiaries can apply for an emergency grant of up to $1,000 a year to pay for urgent dental care with any dentist. Talk to the dentist about applying for the grant before you start treatment.

ACC

ACC will contribute towards the cost of treatment for teeth damaged in accidents (PDF). You can phone ACC on 0800 101 996 for more information.

 

Page last updated: 10 January 2023

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