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

Contractor announced for Te Tai o Poutini West Coast’s new mental health facility Ngā Moana e Rua

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  3. Contractor announced for Te Tai o Poutini West Coast’s new mental health facility Ngā Moana e Rua

Monday 26 August 2024Health news2 minutes to read

Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora is pleased to announce Scott Construction Limited has been appointed as the lead contractor for Te Tai o Poutini West Coast’s new mental health facility Ngā Moana e Rua.

The Nelson-based contractor has more than 50 years’ experience and also built Buller Health’s new facility – Te Rau Kawakawa. Featuring a unique outdoor courtyard which will support wellness, the 1,323m2 fit-for-purpose facility will host six beds plus a low-stimulus room, therapy rooms, whānau spaces, and whare whakatau. The layout has been designed to flex to cater to different ages, genders and individualised treatment plans.

Dr Rob Ojala, Te Waipounamu’s Regional Head of Infrastructure, says construction on the $27 million facility will begin in late-August with completion of the facility expected by late 2026. Set up for construction begins on site today.

“The facility will respond to the needs of people who are experiencing moderate-to-severe episodes of mental illness, providing welcoming environments that support contemporary models of care which make such a difference for people seeking treatment, care and support from Specialist Mental Health teams,” says Dr Rob Ojala.

“Poutini Ngāi Tahu has been involved in this project from the start and we are honoured representatives from both hapu, Te Rūnanga o Makaawhio (south of the Hokitika River down to beyond Haast) and Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae (north of the Hokitika River up to Karamea) have gifted the new facility the name ‘Ngā Moana e Rua’. This is the original name for the lagoon in front of the hospital and it is a significant place for their people.

“Significant investment in infrastructure has been made in recent years on the West Coast, including Te Nīkau Hospital & Health Centre in Greymouth which opened in 2020 and Te Rau Kawakawa which opened last year in Westport. This is the next step in continuing to upgrade our health infrastructure on the Coast which will contribute to better mental health outcomes through a high-quality, culturally-safe and fit-for-purpose mental health facility.”

Ngā Moana e Rua is part of the Mental Health Infrastructure Programme.

ENDS

 For more information contact: hnzmedia@tewhatuora.govt.nz

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Page last updated: 26 August 2024

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