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

Media Release: Programme Manager appointed to Takiwā Poutini Localities team

Friday 7 October 2022Health news3 minutes to read

Takiwā Poutini, the West Coast wellbeing Locality prototype, has appointed a Programme Manager in a significant step forward for the Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand localities project on the Coast.

“Vicki Roper has been appointed and is considered an exceptional candidate who will make a real difference in Takiwā Poutini”, says Takiwā Poutini Partnership Chairperson, Kevin Hague.

Vicki comes with an extensive background in project management specifically focused on the delivery of health care services and is thrilled to be managing the programme on the West Coast.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to use my personal and professional skills and experience to lead the Takiwā Poutini Localities team,” says Vicki Roper.

“Te Tai o Poutini is where I was born and it’s where I’ve chosen to live and work most of my life. I’ve raised my two daughters here in one of the best places in Aotearoa to raise tamariki.

“The West Coast is in my blood; it’s who I am. I’m passionate about this place and feel privileged to be part of the evolution in health and wellbeing that will benefit all our population,” says Vicki.

Takiwā Poutini was selected in April 2022 by Te Whatu Ora as one of nine initial localities to develop a health system prototype. This new approach focuses on enabling whānau to avoid illness; will give iwi and communities a strong voice in deciding what’s needed in their areas; and will enable different health and wellbeing organisations to work together to improve people’s experiences of health care.

Poutini Ngāi Tahu representative Lisa Tumahai says that this role is pivotal to the progress of the locality prototype development.

“I’m very pleased that we have Vicki Roper working alongside us. It’s a role that truly needs someone who can bring the community along our journey,” says Lisa.

Vicki commences in the role on Tuesday, 25 October 2022.

ENDS

Note to editors:

The Takiwā Poutini Partnership comprises Te Whatu Ora Te Tai o Poutini West Coast along with partner agency, Te Aka Whai Ora, Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae and Te Rūnanga o Makaawhio as well as the West Coast PHO, Te Mana Ora Community & Public Health, Te Whatu Ora Waitaha and the Regional Public Service Commissioner. Working in partnership will ensure that we in a strong position to transition to a more integrated sustainable model of health and social services focused on equity, community wellbeing and service integration.

More information about Localities is available on the Te Whatu Ora website – Localities – Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand

Media contact:

Kevin Hague, Takiwā Poutini Partnership Chairperson

waea pūkoro: +64 27 291 7628

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Page last updated: 7 October 2022

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