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

Health news

Read the latest Health NZ West Coast health news, media releases, and current health alerts for the West Coast region. Our West Coast Pānui is also available online.​ Our Communications team are also available to assist with media enquiries.

309 news items.

Health news

West Coast DHB set to send COVID-19 appointment invitations to Group 3 Coasters

Monday 28 June 2021Quick Read

West Coast DHB set to send COVID-19 appointment invitations to Group 3 Coasters  Please attribute the following to... read more about West Coast DHB set to send COVID-19 appointment invitations to Group 3 Coasters»

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CE Update

CE Update – 16 March 2021

Tuesday 16 March 2021Quick Read

West Coast DHB's own newsletter. CE Update – 16 March 2021 In this November edition of the CE Update, a word from... read more about CE Update – 16 March 2021»

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CE Update

CE Update – 11 November 2020

Wednesday 11 November 2020Quick Read

West Coast DHB's own newsletter. In this November edition of the CE Update, Acting Chief Executive Andrew Brant thanks... read more about CE Update – 11 November 2020»

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CE Update

CE Update – 29 July 2020

Wednesday 29 July 2020Quick Read

West Coast DHB's own newsletter. In this July edition of the CE Update, Chief Executive David Meates gives a special... read more about CE Update – 29 July 2020»

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Health news

Drive-through clinic targets Māori and other prioritised patients

Friday 3 April 2020Quick Read

Patients received medical care in their cars at a Poutini Waiora and Grey Medical Centre flu vaccination drive-through... read more about Drive-through clinic targets Māori and other prioritised patients»

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CE Update

CE Update – 27 March 2020

Friday 27 March 2020Quick Read

Articles in this update include: In this edition of the CE Update, Chief Executive David Meates provides an update on... read more about CE Update – 27 March 2020»

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Health news

West Coast flu campaign underway

Monday 23 March 2020Quick Read

This year’s influenza immunisation programme has started early on the West Coast with flu vaccines initially... read more about West Coast flu campaign underway»

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CE Update

CE Update – 1 November 2019

Friday 1 November 2019Quick Read

In this edition of the CE Update, Chief Executive David Meates congratulates the newly elected Board members and also... read more about CE Update – 1 November 2019»

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CE Update

CE Update – 3 July 2019

Wednesday 3 July 2019Quick Read

Articles in this update include: In this July issue: Wellbeing Budget (David Meates) West Coast Health Facilities... read more about CE Update – 3 July 2019»

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CE Update

CE Update – 9 April 2019

Tuesday 9 April 2019

Articles in this update include: A word from Chief Executive David Meates (incl. West Coast Health System audit, West... read more about CE Update – 9 April 2019»

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CE Update

CE Update – 21 December 2018

Friday 21 December 2018Quick Read

West Coast DHB's own newsletter. In this December issue: A Thank You message from CE David Meates West Coast DHB staff... read more about CE Update – 21 December 2018»

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CE Update

CE Update – 12 November 2018

Monday 12 November 2018Quick Read

Articles in this update include: West Coast DHB tests emergency readiness South Island Rural Workforce Workshop Read... read more about CE Update – 12 November 2018»

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Media release

Buller Health staff affected by MRSA

Friday 14 September 2018Quick Read

Clinical staff who usually work in Foote Ward, Buller Health have been affected by MRSA – Methicillin-Resistant... read more about Buller Health staff affected by MRSA»

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CE Update

CE Update – 9 August 2018

Thursday 9 August 2018Quick Read

Articles in this update include: There's still time to protect yourself against the flu (David Meates, CE) Building a... read more about CE Update – 9 August 2018»

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Media release

West Coast DHB prepares for NZNO strike

Tuesday 10 July 2018Quick Read

New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants have voted to strike from 7am... read more about West Coast DHB prepares for NZNO strike»

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CE Update

CE Update – 6 June 2018

Wednesday 6 June 2018Quick Read

Articles in this update include: June is Men's Health Month (David Meates, CE) Coast representative joins RGPN board... read more about CE Update – 6 June 2018»

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Media release

Grey Base large pohutakawa pruning to take place

Tuesday 13 March 2018Quick Read

A tree expert has advised the West Coast DHB that the large pohutakawa on the north-eastern side of the Corporate block... read more about Grey Base large pohutakawa pruning to take place»

Media release

Coast pertussis cases on the rise

Friday 9 March 2018Quick Read

Pregnant women and babies under one need to be vaccinated against pertussis (whooping cough), Medical Officer of Health... read more about Coast pertussis cases on the rise»

Media release

Feedback helps mental health services plan

Friday 9 March 2018Quick Read

Feedback from people with experience of mental health or addictions is helping redesign local mental health services.... read more about Feedback helps mental health services plan»

Media release

Grey Base overbridge to close temporarily

Friday 23 February 2018Quick Read

The overbridge connecting the main street of Greymouth with the Grey Base Hospital will be closed for five days from... read more about Grey Base overbridge to close temporarily»

Media release

CPH nutritionist selected for leadership course

Monday 12 February 2018Quick Read

Greymouth-based Community and Public Health Nutrition Health Promoter Jade Winter has just been selected to attend a... read more about CPH nutritionist selected for leadership course»

Media release

DHB announces closure of Dunsford aged residential care facility

Friday 9 February 2018Quick Read

The West Coast District Health Board has today announced to staff that it intends to proceed with the closure of the... read more about DHB announces closure of Dunsford aged residential care facility»

Media release

Public health advice, including how to stay safe in the aftermath of flooding

Friday 2 February 2018Quick Read

The following advice is issued by Canterbury and West Coast Community and Public Health and applies to areas of the... read more about Public health advice, including how to stay safe in the aftermath of flooding»

Media release

Buller Health evacuating some palliative and aged residential care patients due to concerns over potential flooding

Thursday 1 February 2018Quick Read

West Coast District Health Board is evacuating nine patients from its Buller Health Facility due to concerns with... read more about Buller Health evacuating some palliative and aged residential care patients due to concerns over potential flooding»

Media release

Reefton experiences gastroenteritis outbreak

Friday 26 January 2018Quick Read

Over the past week a number of Reefton people have experienced diarrhoea and vomiting.  Tests have confirmed viral... read more about Reefton experiences gastroenteritis outbreak»

Media release

Independent assessment of O’Conor Home shows no concerns

Thursday 18 January 2018Quick Read

An independent audit has not identified any significant issues at Westport's aged residential care facility O'Conor... read more about Independent assessment of O’Conor Home shows no concerns»

Media release

Mental health and addiction service users’ feedback wanted

Wednesday 10 January 2018Quick Read

People with experience of mental health or addictions are being asked to provide the West Coast District Health Board... read more about Mental health and addiction service users’ feedback wanted»

Media release

Grey Base overbridge to close 8 January

Thursday 14 December 2017Quick Read

The overbridge connecting the main street of Greymouth with the Grey Base Hospital will be closed for 10 days from... read more about Grey Base overbridge to close 8 January»

Media release

DHB Focus on People documents quality initiatives

Wednesday 13 December 2017Quick Read

The West Coast District Health Board has published its annual “Quality Accounts” newspaper, “Focus on... read more about DHB Focus on People documents quality initiatives»

Showing 241-280 of 309 results, page 7 of 8.

Page last updated: 19 September 2022

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