Thursday 30 April 2020Health news3 minutes to read
As we settle into Alert Level 3, sticking to our bubble and staying home unless you need to go out is still our best defence against the spread of COVID-19, so visitor restrictions still apply at all of our facilities, however some rules have been relaxed.
For most inpatient ward areas at Grey Base Hospital, we are now allowing one nominated person from a patient’s ‘bubble’ to visit once per day during visiting hours. This person becomes the nominated visitor for the duration of a patient’s stay.
Visitors are still not allowed in high risk areas where our most vulnerable patients are or where patients are in isolation and this extends to all Aged Residential Care facilities across the Coast. Exceptions may be made on compassionate grounds on a case-by-case basis for end of life care of patients who are not COVID-19 positive.
People who are self-isolating or who are unwell should remain at home and should not visit.
Visiting for maternity services under Alert Level 3 has changed. Women who have had an elective caesarean section can have one support person. Women in labour in a maternity facility are allowed two nominated support people from their extended bubble for the duration of the labour and birth. For the duration of postnatal stays, women can have one named support person from the same bubble who can visit once per day for any length of time between 10am and 8pm.
Details of every visitor will be recorded upon arrival. This is to ensure that once nominated, only that person visits from then on and to allow rapid contact tracing if anyone they have been in contact with is later confirmed as having COVID-19.
“Practicing safe physical distancing, good hand hygiene and covering coughs or sneezes are all still vitally important,” says West Coast DHB Medical Director, Dr Graham Roper.
“Under Alert Level 3, for most inpatient ward areas one person per patient can visit or support a member of your whānau who is unwell, as long as you follow the rules which have been put in place to protect you and others. Some higher risk areas do not allow visiting at Alert Level 3, and we are still asking people not to visit the hospital or health centre if they don’t need to,” Dr Roper says.
This updated guidance is effective at all West Coast DHB facilities from today, Thursday 30 April.
The DHB’s website will be updated with all of the latest visitor guidance later today.
ENDS
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Page last updated: 30 April 2020
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