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

Call to arms goes out to the Westport community to get their free COVID-19 vaccinations

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Thursday 30 September 2021Health news3 minutes to read

Please attribute the following to Philip Wheble, Senior Responsible Officer for the COVID-19 response, West Coast DHB:

Westport community members are being called to arms to come along this weekend to get their first COVID-19 vaccination dose before the end of October to ensure that they are fully vaccinated by Christmas.

As an incentive, West Coast DHB will be holding a random prize draw for 25 vouchers from a range of local businesses during October which is open to Westport residents who get vaccinated.

We realise the Westport community has dealt with a lot over the past couple of months as a result of the recent flood event and so getting vaccinated might not be a high priority at the moment. We want to give a little back to those who are able to make the time to help protect their community from COVID-19.

West Coast DHB is holding two drive-through COVID-19 vaccination events at Westport’s Pulse Energy Recreation Centre this coming weekend (October 2 and 3) and again six weeks later on November 13 and 14.

Bookings are now open and there are currently 1,400 vaccination appointment slots available in Westport this coming weekend! Alternatively, if you don’t have time to make a booking we are happy for you to just turn up between 10am – 4pm on either day.

West Coast Soft Serve will be on-site dishing out ice creams to everyone who has been vaccinated. All you need to do is show your COVID-19 vaccination sticker and if you have brought your kids they can have a free ice cream too.

You can book online at www.BookMyVaccine.nz or by calling the National Booking team on 0800 28 29 26 (8am – 8pm, 7 days). Vaccinations are free.

Consider asking a friend who you'd like to get vaccinated with to come along with you. Better still invite your family/whānau members to join you too.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Remember, if you are deciding to get your vaccination at a drive-through event:

  • At the Westport drive-through vaccination events we will be able to cater for passenger cars or SUVs as well as people who arrive on foot, bike/motorbike or on mobility scooters.
  • Unfortunately, we cannot accept trucks, or other high-sided or wide vehicles at the drive-through centres.
  • If you have a history of fainting or other serious reactions following vaccinations, we recommend you don’t get your vaccination in a drive-through vaccination centre.
  • Private conversations are more challenging at a drive-through site. If you need a detailed conversation about your vaccination, call your GP or Healthline first or attend a non-drive-through vaccination centre.
  • If you have symptoms of COVID-19 or are required to self-isolate (including because you are waiting for your test results), do not come to your vaccination appointment. This applies to all vaccination centres, including drive-through vaccination events.

If you book a vaccination appointment at a drive-through vaccination event:

  • Bring your NHI number if you have it.
  • Where possible, wear a face mask/covering.
  • Make sure you scan in using the event’s QR code.
  • Come prepared in case you need to wait in queue for a period of time. Bring a book/knitting, snacks and water.
  • Sit next to a car door that can be opened.
  • Wear clothing allowing the vaccinator easy access to your upper arm. You should expect to receive the vaccine in the arm closest to the car window.
  • Always stay in your vehicle, unless you are asked to step out by vaccination staff.

ENDS

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Page last updated: 30 September 2021

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