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

Public Health

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8 news items.

Featured – Health news

Health advice during Buller flooding event – update 2

Thursday 10 February 2022

Please attribute to Philip Wheble, Incident Controller – West Coast DHB Buller Health has now relocated all health... read more about Health advice during Buller flooding event – update 2»

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Featured – Health news

** BULLER HEALTH IS EVACUATING **

Friday 4 February 2022Quick Read

Buller Health is relocating health services to the Holcim site on 901 Cape Fowlwind Road, Cape Fowlwind. While... read more about ** BULLER HEALTH IS EVACUATING **»

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Featured – Health news

PUBLIC HEALTH WARNING – MARINE BIOTOXIN IN SHELLFISH

Friday 28 January 2022Quick Read

The Community and Public Health division of West Coast District Health Board has issued a public health warning... read more about PUBLIC HEALTH WARNING – MARINE BIOTOXIN IN SHELLFISH»

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Featured – Health news

Introduction of the traffic light system is a timely reminder to get tested if you have visited a location of interest

Friday 3 December 2021Quick Read

Please attribute to Dr Cheryl Brunton, Medical Officer of Health. The transition to the traffic light system is a... read more about Introduction of the traffic light system is a timely reminder to get tested if you have visited a location of interest»

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Featured – Health news

Health advice following West Coast Floods – Update 5

Wednesday 21 July 2021

Wednesday 21 July 2021 – 6.00pm Please attribute comment to Philip Wheble, Incident Controller, West Coast DHB... read more about Health advice following West Coast Floods – Update 5»

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Featured – Health news

Health advice following West Coast Floods – Update 2

Sunday 18 July 2021

Sunday 18 July 2021 – 8.00pm  Please attribute comment to Philip Wheble, Incident Controller, West Coast DHB... read more about Health advice following West Coast Floods – Update 2»

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Featured – Health news

Health advice following West Coast Floods – Update 1 – Sunday 18 July 11.30am

Sunday 18 July 2021

Westport Buller Health evacuated 11 patients last night to Club Buller in Queen Street. An additional six patients were... read more about Health advice following West Coast Floods – Update 1 – Sunday 18 July 11.30am»

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Featured – Health news

Melbourne travellers asked to get tested and self-isolate

Friday 28 May 2021Quick Read

Due to the community outbreak of COVID-19 in Victoria, anyone who has travelled to and spent time in the Greater... read more about Melbourne travellers asked to get tested and self-isolate»

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Showing 1-8 of 8 results, page 1 of 1.

Page last updated: 10 February 2022

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