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 .

Renewing prescriptions

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To renew a prescription, you usually need an appointment at your health clinic to review your health and check how your medicines are working for you.

Prescriptions for ongoing medicines usually cover 90 days of therapy.

Make an appointment to renew your prescription at least a week or two before you have taken all your medicines. You can ask your pharmacist for reminders and other services to help you manage your prescriptions and medicines.

Your usual healthcare team are the best people to help manage your health, even when you have had surgery or seen a specialist. Ask your GP, pharmacist or practice nurse if you have any concerns or questions about your medicines or ongoing health.

Can I renew prescriptions without an appointment?

Your doctor, prescribing nurse or prescribing pharmacist may sometimes agree to renew your regular prescription without an appointment. Call your GP team to ask if this is possible for you – it is up to the health professional to make this decision, and they will explain their reasons to you.

Most practices charge for this service.

Read more about pharmacists and managing medicines on Healthinfo.

Page last updated: 12 December 2018

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