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.
For visitors to all facilities effective from Wednesday 20 July 2022
With the recent resurgence in cases in Canterbury, largely due to the Omicron BA.5 subvariant we are seeing an increase in demand right across the health system. Presentations to our Christchurch ED and Ashburton’s AAU are higher than ever and admission rates are high, which means we have a shortage of resourced beds.
Recently, we have seen too many unwell people coming to visit someone in hospital and too many that cannot or will not wear a medical mask. This increases the risk to vulnerable people in hospital. For these reasons we need to everything we can to minimise these risks.
We have therefore tightened visitor restrictions for all Te Whatu Ora Waitaha Canterbury hospitals and health facilities.
Kia whakahaumaru te whānau, me ngā iwi katoa – this is to keep everybody safe:
By sticking to the rules above, 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
Visiting patients with COVID-19
You must NOT visit the hospital if you
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.
Everyone visiting our facilities must wear a mask, no exceptions
While we appreciate that some people have legitimate reasons for being exempt from wearing a mask and may even have an official card to confirm this, people who cannot or will not wear a mask cannot visit someone in hospital or attend hospital, other than to access healthcare treatment*. This is another measure to minimise the risk to vulnerable patients.
*healthcare treatment includes: Emergency Department care, outpatient appointments, surgery or a procedure.
See the message at the top of the page, which is one way you can stay in touch during these exceptional circumstances.
Visitors are welcome at our Tuarangi facility in Ashburton and at our Aged Care Facility within Kaikoura Health, but one at a time please. No visitors under 16. All visitors will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms and must wear a medical mask.
Additional guidelines for Christchurch Hospital
Most entrances to Christchurch Hospital will be closed, with ED & Waipapa Main Entrance, Christchurch Women’s Entrance and the main Christchurch Hospital entrance (under the canopies) open.
Visiting hours for services in Christchurch Hospital have been reduced to 3pm – 8pm daily. Visiting hours for services in Christchurch Women's Hospital are 3pm – 8pm daily.
One visitor per patient at a time, and no visitors under 16. Everyone must wear a medical mask, no exceptions. Due to the increased transmission risks, people unable or unwilling to do so cannot visit at this time.
For relatives who have a loved one at the end of life, there is no restriction on numbers visiting. Please be mindful that the number of people in the side room must allow for cares to be performed. Masks must be worn by everyone everyone outside of the room.
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 at a time, following a supervised negative RAT result).
Children who are inpatients can have one other visitor (other than a parent or caregiver) who is able to visit with permission from the nurse in charge.
You need to comply with the rules for public transport under the COVID-19 Protection Framework which in the case of shuttle use are:
Many outpatient appointments have been postponed, to enable us to concentrate our staff resource on acute and emergency care. For those appointments still going ahead, people can have one well, support person over 16 to accompany them.
One visitor per patient at a time – no visitors under 16, no exceptions to the requirement to wear a mask. Under 16s and people without masks cannot visit at this time.
If you need a support person with you at your appointment, you can bring one well, support person over 16 to accompany you.
One visitor per patient at a time – no visitors under 16, no exceptions to the requirement to wear a mask. Under 16s and people without masks cannot visit at this time.
One support person by pre-arrangement for community appointments (contact the team or case manager prior to confirm).
Parents/caregivers are able to visit in support of a child.
Additional people will be considered by the Clinical/Charge Nurse Manager or Duty Nurse Manager (after hours). This must be by prior arrangement to ensure that we can meet physical distancing requirements.
In the Acute and inpatient ward:
One visitor per patient at a time – no visitors under 16, no exceptions to the requirement to wear a mask. Under 16s and people without masks cannot visit at this time.
People attending for urgent care can have one support person with them
Whānau with an essential support role as a partner in care may have one other visitor in addition to their support person, but everyone must wear a medical mask
Women in labour are allowed one support person for the duration of their stay in our facilities
Parents/caregivers are able to be with their child in hospital
People with disabilities can have one support person in addition to their one visitor.
All usual entrances are now open.
One visitor per patient at a time – no visitors under 16, no exceptions to the requirement to wear a mask. Under 16s and people without masks cannot visit at this time.
Ashburton Hospital Visiting Hours are 11am – 2pm and 4pm – 8pm daily.
If you need a support person with you at your appointment, you can bring one well, support person over 16 to accompany you.
Café opening hours access requirements from 20 July 2022 until further notice:
Christchurch Hospital Campus: | Opening hours | Pass/ID | Access |
---|---|---|---|
Great Escape Café | Mon-Fri: 07.00am to 19.30pm Sat-Sun: 09.00am to 19.30pm | Not required | Staff only |
Willow Lane, Waipapa | Daily 08.00am to 08.00pm | Not required | Take away only, no seating |
Kanuka, Outpatients | Mon-Fri 07.00am to 15.30pm | Not required | Take away only, no seating |
PeaBerry, Waipapa | Mon-Fri 07.00am to 15.30pm | Not required | Take away only, no seating |
Parkside Café | Mon-Fri 07.30am to 15.00pm | Not required | Take away only, no seating |
Christchurch Women's Hospital Café | Mon-Fri 07.30am to 15.00pm | Not required | Take away only, no seating |
Ashburton Hospital Café | 08:00am to 15:30pm | Not required | No restrictions |
Burwood Travis Courtyard Café | Open 08.00am to 16.00pm | Not required | No restrictions |
Hillmorton Hospital Avon Café | 08.00am to 15.00pm | Not required | Staff and consumers who are accompanied by a staff member |
Page last updated: 8 August 2022
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