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

Where to go for cervical screening (smear) tests

It is important you feel comfortable with the person who takes your smear. You can choose where to go to have smears:

  • Your local doctor or practice nurse
  • Local sexual health service
  • Community health services and clinics, such as
    • Community Services, lower ground floor – Old Grey Hospital, South West Corner entrance (Greymouth)
    • Poutini Waiora, Shakespeare Street (Greymouth)
    • Number Thirtyseven (Westport)

Clinics and Dates

NCSP Outreach clinics are held throughout the year. Clinic hours may vary so please check what times are available.

Clinic (Location)DateAdditional commentsSmear Taker
NgakawauFri, 15 November 2024Tina
GreymouthMon, 18 November 20248:30am-12:30pm onlyNyoli
HokitikaTue, 19 November 2024Nyoli
GreymouthWed, 20 November 2024Nyoli
GreymouthSat, 23 November 2024Nyoli
GreymouthMon, 25 November 20248:30am-12:30pm onlyNyoli
GreymouthTue, 26 November 2024Nyoli
GreymouthFri, 29 November 2024Nyoli
WestportTue, 3 December 2024Nyoli
GreymouthFri, 6 December 2024Nyoli
GreymouthMon, 9 December 20248:30am-12:30pm onlyNyoli
GreymouthTue, 10 December 2024Nyoli
GreymouthFri, 13 December 2024Nyoli
GreymouthSat, 14 December 2024Nyoli
GreymouthMon, 16 December 20248:30am-12:30pm onlyNyoli
HokitikaTue, 17 December 2024Nyoli
GreymouthWed, 18 December 2024Nyoli
GreymouthMon, 23 December 20248:30am-12:30pm onlyNyoli
GreymouthTue, 24 December 2024Nyoli
GreymouthFri, 27 December 2024Nyoli
GreymouthTue, 31 December 2024Nyoli

Note: Additional clinics will be listed (usually monthly) and once times have been confirmed.

For appointments or information on the above clinics please contact

Lisa Teasdale, Register Co-ordinator: Phone: 03 769 7853

Tina Fox, Smear Taker based in Westport, available Coast wide: Phone: 027 471 8178 (Sending text-messages is fine.)

Nyoli Waghorn-Rogatski, Smear Taker based in Greymouth, available Coast wide: Phone: 03 769 7751, Mobile: 027 404 1692 (Sending text-messages is fine.)

Who should have cervical smear tests?

All women who have ever had sex should have cervical smear tests every three years from age 25 to age 70, including if you:

  • Have been immunised against HPV
  • Are single
  • Have sex with men
  • Have sex with women
  • Are a trans person with female anatomy
  • Are no longer having sex
  • Have a disability
  • Have been through menopause
  • Have had a subtotal hysterectomy (where the cervix is not removed)

If you are pregnant or have a new baby and are due for a cervical smear test, it is usually safe and recommended to do so.
Call the NCSP on 0800 729 729 for more information.

Some older women think they do not need to have cervical smear tests, especially if they are no longer sexually active. However, there is still a chance cancer will appear in later life.

In New Zealand, it is very rare for women under the age of 25 to develop cervical cancer.

Women who have never been sexually active do not need to have cervical smear tests.

Women who have had a total hysterectomy (where both the uterus and the cervix are removed) do not usually need to have smear tests unless advised to do so, usually if you have had treatment for cervical cancer or precancer.

When to have smear tests

We usually recommend you have a cervical screening test every three years.

If it is your first smear, or your first one in a while, you might be called back sooner than three years for your next test. This is to reduce the chances of any abnormal cells being missed.

You might also be asked to come back sooner if you have an unsatisfactory smear or an abnormal result. Some women with immune disorders or higher risk of developing cancer should have a cervical smear test each year.

If you think you may need a smear test earlier than planned, please talk to your smear taker.

See your health care professional if you have:

  • Bleeding between menstrual periods
  • Bleeding after sex
  • Bleeding after menopause
  • Unusual discharge from your vagina
  • Persistent pain in your pelvis
  • Pain during sex

These symptoms can happen for many reasons, but they should be checked out.

Contact us

To book a cervical screening test talk to your local doctor or nurse, or call:

National Cervical Screening Programme (NCSP): 0800 729 729

West Coast NCSP (Community Services): 03 769 7799

To find out when your smear test is due talk to your local doctor or nurse, or call:

West Coast NCSP Register Coordinator: 03 769 7853

Page last updated: 13 June 2024

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