HOSPITAL VISITING

Hospital visiting guidelines updated 16 September 2022: Hospital visitors must wear a surgical/medical paper mask. Fabric face coverings are not acceptable.  See our COVID-19 page for general COVID-19 advice, detailed hospital visiting guidelines and COVID-19 tests.

See www.vaccinatecanterburywestcoast.nz for info on vaccinations.

Last updated:
16 September 2022

Fewer visitor restrictions now apply

For visitors to all facilities effective from 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

Dementia unit (Kahurangi)
Department: Kahurangi Dementia UnitDivision: Older Person's Health Service

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  4. Dementia unit (Kahurangi)

Kahurangi Dementia Unit provides 24/7 short term and long term care for full-time patients in modern, home-like facilities.

Staff provide dementia assessment, support and education.

Kahurangi is a 20 bed facility, 17 of which are dedicated to Aged Residential Hospital Specialised Care residents (however one of these beds acts as a “swing” bed between the ARC and ATR) and 3 dedicated beds to Assessment, treatment and rehab of older persons health. It was a 22 bed facility until some time ago. 2 beds were decommissioned and then repurposed into a Hair Salon and a Chapel.

Services and facilities

  • Modern, home-like facilities
  • 24/7 dementia care
  • Short-term and long-term care
  • Dementia assessment
  • Promoting independence
  • Education and support
  • Whānau (family) support
  • Help for patients in the community

Normal visiting hours are between 10am and 7pm. If you want to visit outside these hours, please come via the main reception, at Te Nīkau, Grey Hospital & Health Centre.
Please check with the nurse in charge before taking a patient for a drive or walk.

If you think Kahurangi might be right for you or a family member, please talk to your usual doctor or nurse. They can organise an assessment if necessary.
We assess new patients for physical health, living skills and social skills. This assessment may take four to six weeks, and we will keep whānau informed during the process.

There is a fee for long stay dementia care patients. The patient may be eligible for a subsidy to cover these costs.
Please talk to your doctor or nurse, or the Kahurangi team to learn more.

Page last updated: 5 August 2020

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