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

Buller Health

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About Buller Health

Buller Health is the home of all Te Whatu Ora West Coast 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 great starting place to learn about how things work at Buller Health is our handy flyer, which you can download/view via the link below:

Buller Health

Topics covered:

  • How your health centre works
  • How assessments are made
  • Why am I waiting
  • Services
  • Payment expectations
  • Also: How to contact us; Hours; Entry and Parking; Working together to make it work for our community

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

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 03 788-9277),
  • 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
PO Box 242
Westport 7866

Street 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 primary care services

For primary care services on week nights (5pm – 8am), weekends and public holidays (24/7) connect with Ka Ora by either calling 0800 252-672 or accessing their website kaora.co.nz

There is a still an in-person service available for those who need it. The Ka Ora team will refer you to the in-person service available in your area if you need it. 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)

Acute services
10:00am - 02:00pm
03:30pm - 08:00pm
Maternity10:00am - 02:00pm
04:00pm - 08:00pm

 

Medical Centre and GP services

Open Hours

Monday – Friday: 8:45am – 5:00pm
For primary care services on week nights (5pm – 8am), weekends and public holidays (24/7) connect with Ka Ora by either calling 0800 252-672 or accessing their website kaora.co.nz
More information – Ka Ora Westport Kawatiri

 

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 Te Whatu Ora 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 can arrange referrals for:

Buller Health facilities at a glance

Accessible

Cycle stands

Disability car parking available

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: 11 December 2024

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