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

Rural Health

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24 news items.

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

Buller Health’s 24/7 acute care services to be reinstated from Monday, 19 December

Friday 16 December 2022Quick Read

Buller Health is all set to reinstate it’s 24/7 acute care services from Monday, 19 December 2022. Temporary changes... read more about Buller Health’s 24/7 acute care services to be reinstated from Monday, 19 December»

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Featured – Health news

Drone technology set to provide valuable support to the delivery of health care services on the West Coast

Friday 16 December 2022

Swoop Aero is set to launch New Zealand’s first integrated drone logistics network in partnership with Te Whatu Ora... read more about Drone technology set to provide valuable support to the delivery of health care services on the West Coast»

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Featured – Health news

Temporary changes introduced to Te Whatu Ora physiotherapy services on the West Coast

Thursday 8 December 2022Quick Read

Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand’s physiotherapy services on the West Coast are currently experiencing... read more about Temporary changes introduced to Te Whatu Ora physiotherapy services on the West Coast»

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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

Buller Health’s 24/7 acute care services to operate at reduced capacity during Labour Weekend

Friday 21 October 2022Quick Read

Urgent patient stabilisation and observation services provided by Buller Health’s Foote Ward team will be provided at... read more about Buller Health’s 24/7 acute care services to operate at reduced capacity during Labour Weekend»

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Featured – Health news

Changes to Buller Health’s maternity services to be introduced next week

Thursday 20 October 2022Quick Read

Changes to Buller Health’s maternity services will be introduced next week so hapū māmā (pregnant women) living in... read more about Changes to Buller Health’s maternity services to be introduced next week»

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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

Media Release: Programme Manager appointed to Takiwā Poutini Localities team

Friday 7 October 2022Quick Read

Takiwā Poutini, the West Coast wellbeing Locality prototype, has appointed a Programme Manager in a significant step... read more about Media Release: Programme Manager appointed to Takiwā Poutini Localities team»

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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

Te Whatu Ora Te Tai o Poutini Studentship Programme renamed in honour of Gary Coghlan

Friday 23 September 2022Quick Read

Te Whatu Ora Te Tai o Poutini West Coast’s Studentship Programme has recently been renamed Te Kōunga o Te Hiringa... read more about Te Whatu Ora Te Tai o Poutini Studentship Programme renamed in honour of Gary Coghlan»

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Featured – Health news

Buller Health’s 24/7 acute care services set to be reinstated in early October

Friday 9 September 2022Quick Read

Urgent patient stabilisation and observation services provided by Buller Health’s Foote Ward team will be back to a... read more about Buller Health’s 24/7 acute care services set to be reinstated in early October»

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Featured – Health news

Te Whatu Ora Te Tai o Poutini West Coast makes changes to visitor policy to protect vulnerable patients

Monday 15 August 2022

To ease the pressure on the West Coast health system and to protect vulnerable and older patients, from today, 15... read more about Te Whatu Ora Te Tai o Poutini West Coast makes changes to visitor policy to protect vulnerable patients»

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Featured – Health news

Temporary changes to the delivery of health care services to come into effect at Buller Health today

Friday 12 August 2022

In response to on-going staffing pressures across the West Coast, the following changes to how health care services... read more about Temporary changes to the delivery of health care services to come into effect at Buller Health today»

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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

Installation of new CT scanner to start shortly

Wednesday 3 August 2022Quick Read

Installation of a brand new state-of-the-art Computed Tomography Scanner in Te Nīkau Hospital’s Radiology Department... read more about Installation of new CT scanner to start shortly»

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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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Featured – Health news

Temporary changes to health care appointments at Lake Brunner Clinic

Friday 27 May 2022Quick Read

From today, patients registered with West Coast DHB’s Lake Brunner Clinic are set to see some short-term changes to... read more about Temporary changes to health care appointments at Lake Brunner Clinic»

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Featured – Health news

Canterbury and West Coast DHBs preparing for planned PSA strike

Monday 9 May 2022Quick Read

Canterbury and West Coast DHBs are preparing for further planned industrial action by the Public Service Association.... read more about Canterbury and West Coast DHBs preparing for planned PSA strike»

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Featured – Health news

Delays expected in the return of residents to a refurbished Ziman House

Tuesday 3 May 2022Quick Read

The re-opening of Reefton’s Ziman House will be delayed while a recruitment process to staff the facility is... read more about Delays expected in the return of residents to a refurbished Ziman House»

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Showing 1-24 of 24 results, page 1 of 1.

Page last updated: 20 December 2022

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