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

Buller Health

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About Buller Health

Buller Health is the home of all West Coast DHB health services for Westport and Northern Buller.

Buller Health is located on Cobden St in Westport. Please note that with the recent changes that have happened to the new facility there is now only one main entrance and that is the one from Cobden St.

The Buller Health team works closely with colleagues in Greymouth to provide seamless care.

A virtual fly-through of the new Buller Health Facility from West Coast District Health Board on Vimeo.

Note: Buller Health Westport, Buller Health provides 24 hrs Acute/Emergency services. In an Emergency call 111.

If you are unsure of what to do, call 03 788 9277 at any time day or night to discuss your situation with a Registered Nurse

Temporary changes to the delivery of health care services to come into effect at Buller Health

The following changes to how health care services will be delivered at Buller Health will come into effect (21/10/2022).

* Urgent patient stabilisation and observation services provided by our Foote Ward Open 7:00am – 11:00pm daily with the doors closing at 10:00pm.

Remember, if you are injured or experiencing severe symptoms, it’s critical that you call 111 at all times.

  • For appointments, enquiries, prescriptions or results phone Buller Medical Centre on 03 788 9277 during week day Monday – Friday; 8:45am – 5:00pm.
  • If you have a mild illness, you can check the info here on this website or our HealthInfo website for more information on what to do or where to go if you are unsure.
  • If you are feeling unwell with any condition, you can phone Healthline on 0800 611-116 for free health advice 24/7 or your general practice team to discuss your situation and symptoms rather than visiting in person. This will ensure that you get to access appropriate treatment and medication to help you stay well, even if you are at home isolating.
  • For COVID-19 health advice please call 0800 358-5453.
  • If you’re worried about yourself, or someone in your whānau who has a respiratory illness, see the checklist here of symptoms to watch out for, and when you should seek medical advice.

See also: Related media releases

Location

Physical address (Buller Health): 46B Cobden Street, Westport

Directions to Buller Health main entrance on Cobden street

Use this main entrance for accessing the medical centre, clinics and specialist services, i.e.

  • general enquiries (or phone 03 788-9030),
  • outpatient appointments, and
  • to visit Buller Health after hours or in the weekend.

Postal address

Use the following to send mail to Buller Health

Buller Health
46B Cobden Street
Westport 7825

Phone & Fax

Clinics and specialist services

Reception GP and nurse consults

In an EMERGENCY: dial 111

After hours: Call your General Practice team. Your call will be answered 24/7 by a nurse who can advise you what to do and where to go, if you need urgent care.  More…

Enquiries and feedback

We welcome your feedback about our services and your experiences at Buller Health.

Note: We cannot provide medical advice to people by email. Please contact your doctor or the person in charge of your medical care.

Visiting hours (Inpatients)

Foote Ward
Foote Ward is currently closed to overnight admissions until further notice – more information.
Kawatiri Maternity10:00am - 02:00pm
03:30pm - 08:00pm

 

Medical Centre and GP services

Open Hours

Monday – Friday: 8:45am – 5:00pm

Saturday – Sunday: 2:00pm – 4:00pm

Statutory Holidays: 2:00pm – 4:00pm

Enrolments

If you live in Buller or are staying for a while, we encourage you to enrol with the practice.

Enrolment is free, and means you can get cheaper healthcare when you need it.

GP Fees

Lower cost general practice visits for children aged 13 years and under.  We are changing things to make visits to this general practice more affordable for your family and whānau.  Find out more…

A full list of fees is available for all West Coast DHB GP clinics including Buller Health.

Specialist services, clinics and other healthcare

Clinics and other healthcare is available at Buller Health, including services provided by visiting specialists from Grey Base Hospital. Your GP usual team can arrange referrals for:

Buller Health facilities at a glance

Accessible

Cycle stands

Disability car parking only

Hot drinks

Smokefree facility

Taxis

Disabled & Visitor toilets

Visitor information reception

Four tips to help prevent infections when visiting a patient

1) Don’t visit any patients if you are feeling unwell

2) Use the alcohol hand rub at our hand hygiene stations

3) Avoid sitting on a patient’s bed – please use chairs provided

4) Don’t use patients-only toilets

Page last updated: 26 October 2022

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