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

Bookings strongly recommended for tamariki COVID-19 immunisations

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  3. Bookings strongly recommended for tamariki COVID-19 immunisations

Friday 14 January 2022Health news2 minutes to read

From Monday, parents or caregivers of 5 to 11-year-olds can start booking their tamariki in to be immunised against COVID-19, says Philip Wheble, Senior Responsible Officer for the COVID-19 response, West Coast DHB.

A list of clinics delivering tamariki immunisations, along with resources for parents to support their decisions and discussions can be found on our vaccination website: https://vaccinatecanterburywestcoast.nz/covid-19-immunisations-for-children/.

“We strongly recommend that you make a booking on the Book My Vaccine website as not all of our clinics start vaccinating children on the 17th. Bookings through the website open on Monday,” says Philip Wheble.

Tamariki aged 5-11 years old will receive a lower dose of the Pfizer vaccine and will need two doses delivered 8 weeks apart. Children in this age group must have a parent, caregiver or legal guardian accompany them to their appointment and provide consent for them to be vaccinated.

“Most children and young people who catch COVID-19 will have mild symptoms. However, some can become very sick and require hospitalisation.

“Immunisation is the most effective way to protect our tamariki from many serious diseases like COVID-19. It also helps to stop the disease spreading within your whānau and the community.”

“I really encourage you to take time to get the information and advice you need to make the best decision for your child. Remember, you are also welcome to drop into any of our vaccination clinics and speak to one of our clinical staff if you have any questions,” says Mr Wheble.

If you’re looking for more information about COVID-19 vaccinations for 5-11 year olds, here is a useful link (updated 11 March 2024):

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Page last updated: 11 March 2024

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