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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12 news items.

Featured – Health news

Health advice following West Coast Floods – Update 1 – Sunday 18 July 11.30am

Sunday 18 July 2021

Westport Buller Health evacuated 11 patients last night to Club Buller in Queen Street. An additional six patients were... read more about Health advice following West Coast Floods – Update 1 – Sunday 18 July 11.30am»

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Featured – Health news

***BULLER HEALTH HAS BEEN EVACUATED***

Saturday 17 July 2021Quick Read

Due to rising flood waters, eleven patients, staff and supplies from Buller Health have relocated to Club Buller in... read more about ***BULLER HEALTH HAS BEEN EVACUATED***»

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Featured – Health news

Help keep our tamariki well by keeping bugs like RSV away from babies/pēpi

Saturday 10 July 2021Quick Read

A common winter virus called RSV is currently spreading across New Zealand and making babies/pēpi sick. RSV is... read more about Help keep our tamariki well by keeping bugs like RSV away from babies/pēpi»

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Featured – Health news

Melbourne travellers asked to get tested and self-isolate

Friday 28 May 2021Quick Read

Due to the community outbreak of COVID-19 in Victoria, anyone who has travelled to and spent time in the Greater... read more about Melbourne travellers asked to get tested and self-isolate»

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Featured – Health news

West Coast DHB makes changes to visiting at its facilities following Alert level 2 announcement

Thursday 13 August 2020Quick Read

Please attribute comment to Dr Graham Roper, Medical Director – West Coast District Health Board Following New... read more about West Coast DHB makes changes to visiting at its facilities following Alert level 2 announcement»

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Featured – Health news

Restrictions remain in place during alert level three to protect the West Coast community

Thursday 30 April 2020Quick Read

West Coast DHB General Manager Philip Wheble today said that under alert level three, the West Coast Health System... read more about Restrictions remain in place during alert level three to protect the West Coast community»

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Featured – Health news

Two further cases of COVID-19 confirmed on the West Coast

Saturday 28 March 2020Quick Read

As announced by the Ministry of Health on 28 March, a further two people on the West Coast have tested positive for... read more about Two further cases of COVID-19 confirmed on the West Coast»

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Featured – Facilities News

All Coast GP Practices have changed the way they are operating

Friday 27 March 2020Quick Read

JOINT MEDIA RELEASE All West Coast general practices have restricted access to clinics in response to the current... read more about All Coast GP Practices have changed the way they are operating»

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Featured – Health news

COVID-19 Alert Level Four – Updated hospital and clinic visitor policy

Friday 27 March 2020Quick Read

  Canterbury and West Coast DHBs Chief Executive David Meates has today announced further significant changes to... read more about COVID-19 Alert Level Four – Updated hospital and clinic visitor policy»

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Featured – Health news

First COVID-19 case confirmed on the West Coast

Thursday 26 March 2020Quick Read

As announced by the Director-General of Health and the Ministry of Health on 26 March a person on the West Coast has... read more about First COVID-19 case confirmed on the West Coast»

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Featured – Health news

Don’t let measles ruin your holiday

Friday 20 December 2019Quick Read

With the Christmas and New Year holidays fast approaching, you may have an overseas trip planned and be counting down... read more about Don’t let measles ruin your holiday»

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Featured – Media release

Traces of asbestos found in Westport Health Facilities

Thursday 29 August 2019Quick Read

Please attribute to Philip Wheble, General Manager – West Coast District Health Board West Coast DHB has closed... read more about Traces of asbestos found in Westport Health Facilities»

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Showing 1-12 of 12 results, page 1 of 1.

Page last updated: 18 July 2021

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