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

New Publication(s)

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8 news items.

Featured – Focus on People

Focus on People – Quality Accounts Newsletter for 2020

Monday 21 December 2020Quick Read

This edition of Focus on People is the West Coast Health System’s Quality Accounts 2020 publication which provides a... read more about Focus on People – Quality Accounts Newsletter for 2020»

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Featured – Health news

COVID-19 Alert Level Four – Updated hospital and clinic visitor policy

Friday 27 March 2020Quick Read

  Canterbury and West Coast DHBs Chief Executive David Meates has today announced further significant changes to... read more about COVID-19 Alert Level Four – Updated hospital and clinic visitor policy»

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Featured – Focus on People

Focus on People – Quality Accounts Newsletter for 2019

Friday 20 December 2019Quick Read

Focus on People is West Coast DHB’s Quality Accounts annual publication. This special 2019 edition aims to provide... read more about Focus on People – Quality Accounts Newsletter for 2019»

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Featured – Health news

Mental Health services proposal focused on patient care

Friday 11 January 2019Quick Read

Please attribute to Dr Cameron Lacey, Clinical Director Mental Health – West Coast District Health Board In... read more about Mental Health services proposal focused on patient care»

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CE Update

CE Update – 16 March 2021

Tuesday 16 March 2021Quick Read

West Coast DHB's own newsletter. CE Update – 16 March 2021 In this November edition of the CE Update, a word from... read more about CE Update – 16 March 2021»

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CE Update

CE Update – 1 November 2019

Friday 1 November 2019Quick Read

In this edition of the CE Update, Chief Executive David Meates congratulates the newly elected Board members and also... read more about CE Update – 1 November 2019»

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Media release

DHB Focus on People documents quality initiatives

Wednesday 13 December 2017Quick Read

The West Coast District Health Board has published its annual “Quality Accounts” newspaper, “Focus on... read more about DHB Focus on People documents quality initiatives»

Media release

West Coast Māori Health Plan approved

Thursday 25 August 2016Quick Read

The West Coast health system is doing well in its planning and implementation for Māori health, the Ministry of Health... read more about West Coast Māori Health Plan approved»

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Page last updated: 28 October 2022

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