HOSPITAL VISITING

Hospital visiting guidelines updated 16 September 2022: Hospital visitors must wear a surgical/medical paper mask. Fabric face coverings are not acceptable.  See our COVID-19 page for general COVID-19 advice, detailed hospital visiting guidelines and COVID-19 tests.

See www.vaccinatecanterburywestcoast.nz for info on vaccinations.

Last updated:
16 September 2022

Fewer visitor restrictions now apply

For visitors to all facilities effective from 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

General Practice

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22 news items.

Featured – Health news

Senior doctors strike Tuesday 5 September, 12 midday to 2pm

Friday 1 September 2023Quick Read

Senior doctors strike Tuesday 5 September, 12 midday to 2pm Senior doctors and dentists employed by Te Whatu Ora, who... read more about Senior doctors strike Tuesday 5 September, 12 midday to 2pm»

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Featured – Health news

Te Whatu Ora Te Tai o Poutini West Coast’s Ngakawau Clinic update

Wednesday 26 July 2023Quick Read

Ngakawau Clinic will be closed from today (Wednesday, 26/07/2023) through to 8:30am on Monday, 31 July 2023 while our... read more about Te Whatu Ora Te Tai o Poutini West Coast’s Ngakawau Clinic update»

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Featured – Health news

Buller Health’s weekend plans confirmed

Friday 21 July 2023Quick Read

From this evening (Friday, 21/07/2023) Buller Health’s acute care zone will be closed from 5:30pm until 7:00am on... read more about Buller Health’s weekend plans confirmed»

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Featured – Health news

Alternative plans for Buller Health’s after-hours acute care service to remain in place all week

Tuesday 18 July 2023Quick Read

Further changes are being implemented in Buller Health’s after-hours acute care service for the remainder of this... read more about Alternative plans for Buller Health’s after-hours acute care service to remain in place all week»

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Featured – Health news

Alternate acute care plans in place at Buller Health next week to accommodate reduced staffing capacity

Thursday 13 July 2023Quick Read

Next week, Buller Health will be introducing alternate care plans to its acute care service to accommodate reduced... read more about Alternate acute care plans in place at Buller Health next week to accommodate reduced staffing capacity»

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Featured – Health news

Buller Health services are now located in our new facility – Te Rau Kawakawa

Monday 8 May 2023Quick Read

Over the weekend, all Buller Health services were successfully moved across to our new facility – Te Rau Kawakawa.... read more about Buller Health services are now located in our new facility – Te Rau Kawakawa»

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Featured – Health news

Health services all set to move into Buller Health’s new facility – Te Rau Kawakawa

Thursday 4 May 2023Quick Read

Health services are set to move across into Buller Health’s new facility – Te Rau Kawakawa this coming weekend. The... read more about Health services all set to move into Buller Health’s new facility – Te Rau Kawakawa»

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Featured – Health news

Te Nīkau Health Centre’s unplanned GP services will be operating at reduced capacity today – Friday 24 March 2023

Friday 24 March 2023Quick Read

Te Nīkau Health Centre’s unplanned GP services will be operating at reduced capacity today, Friday 24 March 2023,... read more about Te Nīkau Health Centre’s unplanned GP services will be operating at reduced capacity today – Friday 24 March 2023»

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Featured – Health news

Buller Health’s health care services will be operating at reduced capacity this weekend

Friday 3 March 2023Quick Read

Buller Health’s health care services will be operating at reduced capacity this weekend due to staff illness. Over... read more about Buller Health’s health care services will be operating at reduced capacity this weekend»

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Featured – Health news

West Coasters urged to ‘Have a safe-as summer’

Tuesday 20 December 2022

West Coasters are being urged to ‘Have a safe-as summer’ by planning ahead before the summer holidays begin... read more about West Coasters urged to ‘Have a safe-as summer’»

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Featured – Health news

Te Whatu Ora Te Tai o Poutini West Coast’s Ngakawau Clinic update

Wednesday 9 November 2022Quick Read

Due to staff redeployment, Ngakawau Clinic will be closed on Friday, 11 November 2022. During this time, all urgent... read more about Te Whatu Ora Te Tai o Poutini West Coast’s Ngakawau Clinic update»

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Featured – Health news

Te Whatu Ora Te Tai o Poutini West Coast’s COVID-19 vaccination programme winds down with primary care continuing to lead on vaccinations

Wednesday 2 November 2022Quick Read

This week marks a milestone for Te Whatu Ora Te Tai o Poutini West Coast’s COVID-19 response as the COVID-19... read more about Te Whatu Ora Te Tai o Poutini West Coast’s COVID-19 vaccination programme winds down with primary care continuing to lead on vaccinations»

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Featured – Health news

Te Whatu Ora Te Tai o Poutini West Coast’s Ngakawau Clinic update

Wednesday 19 October 2022Quick Read

Due to staff leave, we have made some temporary changes to Ngakawau Clinic’s services. Next Tuesday (25/10/2022), the... read more about Te Whatu Ora Te Tai o Poutini West Coast’s Ngakawau Clinic update»

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Featured – Health news

Buller Health’s 24/7 acute care services to temporarily continue operating at reduced capacity

Monday 3 October 2022Quick Read

Urgent patient stabilisation and observation services provided by Buller Health’s Foote Ward team will continue to... read more about Buller Health’s 24/7 acute care services to temporarily continue operating at reduced capacity»

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Featured – Health news

All services moving back to Buller Health this Sunday

Friday 19 August 2022

On Sunday 21 August, all health services currently based in Westport’s Masonic Lodge will be relocating back to the... read more about All services moving back to Buller Health this Sunday»

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Featured – Health news

Temporary changes to health care services to come into effect next week at Buller Health

Friday 5 August 2022Quick Read

In response to on-going staffing pressures across the West Coast, the following temporary changes to Buller Health’s... read more about Temporary changes to health care services to come into effect next week at Buller Health»

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Featured – Health news

*** Ngakawau Clinic update ***

Thursday 4 August 2022Quick Read

The Ngakawau Clinic will remain closed today (4 August) and Friday (5 August). During this time, all urgent... read more about *** Ngakawau Clinic update ***»

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Featured – Health news

Ngakawau Clinic update

Tuesday 26 July 2022Quick Read

Due to winter illness our Ngakawau Clinic will be closed this Thursday (28 July) and Friday (29 July). We apologise for... read more about Ngakawau Clinic update»

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Featured – Health news

Te Tai o Poutini West Coast’s South Westland Area Practice update

Friday 15 July 2022Quick Read

In response to a temporary staff shortage, South Westland Area Practice is currently offering remote General... read more about Te Tai o Poutini West Coast’s South Westland Area Practice update»

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Featured – Health news

Buller Health’s Foote Ward closed for admission this weekend

Friday 10 June 2022Quick Read

Due to an increase in staff sickness from COVID and winter related illnesses, the acute inpatient beds in Buller... read more about Buller Health’s Foote Ward closed for admission this weekend»

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Featured – Health news

Ngakawau Clinic update

Friday 10 June 2022Quick Read

From today (10/06/2022), patients registered with West Coast DHB’s Ngakawau Clinic are set to see some short-term... read more about Ngakawau Clinic update»

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Featured – Health news

Temporary changes to GP appointments at Reefton Health

Tuesday 7 June 2022Quick Read

From today, patients registered with West Coast DHB’s Reefton Health are set to see some short-term changes to the... read more about Temporary changes to GP appointments at Reefton Health»

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Showing 1-22 of 22 results, page 1 of 1.

Page last updated: 1 September 2023

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