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

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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.

329 news items.

Media release

DHB general practice fees change

Friday 29 July 2016Quick Read

Fees for routine consultations with your own West Coast District Health Board general practice increase by 50 cents... read more about DHB general practice fees change»

Media release

New endoscopy tower improves view

Wednesday 20 July 2016Quick Read

A new endoscopy tower at the Grey Base Hospital means surgeons can see more clearly when they need to carry out... read more about New endoscopy tower improves view»

Media release

Profile provides planning tool

Friday 8 July 2016Quick Read

Overall increases in community need, challenges in recruitment and retention of workers, viability of services, and the... read more about Profile provides planning tool»

Media release

New stop smoking service for Coast

Friday 1 July 2016Quick Read

The Ministry of Health has offered a contract to Community and Public Health to deliver the new West Coast Stop Smoking... read more about New stop smoking service for Coast»

Media release

Consumer voices are important

Tuesday 14 June 2016Quick Read

The West Coast DHB Consumer Council is looking for more representatives to provide advice to the West Coast health... read more about Consumer voices are important»

Facilities News

DHB applauds Government’s commitment to West Coast

Friday 27 May 2016Quick Read

West Coast District Health Board Chair Peter Ballantyne has applauded the Government's commitment to the health of West... read more about DHB applauds Government’s commitment to West Coast»

Media release

South Westland flooding – Media Update 1

Thursday 24 March 2016Quick Read

All DHB clinics are running as normal in South Westland today. If any patients are unable to make it to their... read more about South Westland flooding – Media Update 1»

Media release

West Coast makes 999,999th electronic referral

Wednesday 23 March 2016Quick Read

Two minutes after West Coast District Health Board Rural Hospital Medicine Registrar Adele Pheasant referred a patient... read more about West Coast makes 999,999th electronic referral»

Media release

New ‘virtual medical receptionist’ service to help South Westland

Friday 26 February 2016Quick Read

A new service offering greater access to booking general practice appointments in South Westland will become... read more about New ‘virtual medical receptionist’ service to help South Westland»

Showing 321-329 of 329 results, page 9 of 9.

Page last updated: 19 September 2022

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