HOSPITAL VISITING

All hospital visitors are recommended to wear a medical face mask. For more information about visiting: Visitors and family. See our COVID-19 page for general COVID-19 advice, detailed hospital visiting guidelines and COVID-19 tests.

See West Coast COVID-19 vaccination clinics for info on vaccinations link COVID-19 Vaccination • West Coast • Healthpoint

Last updated:
16 September 2022

Fewer visitor restrictions now apply

For visitors to all facilities (effective from and last updated on 16 September 2022)

Some visitor restrictions for all Te Whatu Ora Te Tai o Poutini West Coast 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 in single rooms may have more than one visitor while patients in multi-bed rooms can have one visitor only per patient to ensure there is no overcrowding.
  • People can have one or two support people to accompany them to outpatients appointments.
  • Women in labour in a birthing suite, in Te Nīkau Hospital’s Maternity Ward and in Buller’s Kawatiri Maternity Unit can have the usual support people, subject to space, for the duration of their stay in our facilities.
  • Eating or drinking at the bedside is at the discretion of the Clinical Nurse Manager. 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.

Mask wearing

  • Surgical/medical masks must be worn at all sites, except in counselling, mental health and addiction services where it’s on a case-by-case agreement with patients. Masks will be provided if you don’t have one. In higher-risk environments, people, including young children, may not be able to visit if they cannot wear a mask.
  • 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.

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, WhatsApp etc where visits aren’t possible.

You must NOT visit our facilities if you

  • are COVID-19 positive
  • are unwell. Please stay home if you have a tummy bug or cold or flu/COVID-19-like symptoms (even if you’ve tested negative for COVID-19).

Te Whatu Ora West Coast Aged Residential Care facilities

Visitors are welcome at our Aged Care Residential facilities, subject to the space available. All visitors must wear a surgical mask.

More COVID-19 information

West Coast DHB announces name of new health facilities in Greymouth

Tuesday 13 November 2018Facilities News3 minutes to read

At its Board meeting last week, West Coast DHB members agreed on a name for its new facilities, due for completion next year.

Board chair, Jenny Black said the new facility will be known as Te Nīkau, Grey Hospital & Health Centre.

Jenny said when deciding on the name the DHB sought advice from Tatau Pounamu, the West Coast’s manawhenua health group, in consultation with local iwi.

“Inspiration for the name came from Nikau the original name of the hill immediately behind the hospital, as well as the Nikau Palm,” she said.

Tatau Pounamu believe the name Te Nīkau will help bridge the geographical divide between Te Tai Poutini and Te Tai Tapu (Westcoast and Buller), as the Nikau palm is readily recognised in the Buller as the Coastwide symbol. The Nikau is New Zealand’s only native palm tree which is synonymous with the West Coast.

Jenny Black said she’s delighted that local iwi will also assist with supporting the cultural identity of the facility by donating a large touchstone pounamu to be located in the main entrance; a second pounamu stone on a plinth as a feature in the internal courtyard, a large carved entry Pou for the front of the new facility and carvings for other areas throughout the facility.

“In addition iwi have contributed to the design of etching on the glass throughout the facility, which will support the cultural narrative and unique West Coast location.

West Coast DHB Board members agreed upon the name as it reflects the sense of place for Coasters who will be on the receiving end of health services in this wonderful new facility,” Jenny Black said.

ENDS

Background:

The 8,500 metre facility is due for completion in late March 2019 with staff expected to move in later in the year once the fit out is complete. The facility includes 56 in-patient beds, three operating theatres, radiology, laboratory services and integrated family health centre to provide primary care and outpatient services. Other clinical services include urgent care, 24/7 emergency department, critical care unit, paediatric and maternity services as well as planned and acute medical and surgical services and older persons’ health including assessment, treatment and rehabilitation services.

You can catch up with the latest progress on the site by watching this video.

Scaffold slowly coming down on the outside of the new Grey Health facility.

Scaffold slowly coming down on the outside of the new Grey Health facility.

Control room set up with bedhead and ensuite

Control room set up with bedhead and ensuite

Ensuite bathroom

Ensuite bathroom

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Page last updated: 26 June 2020

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