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

visitor guidance

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6 news items.

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

West Coast DHB updates its visitor policy

Friday 25 February 2022Quick Read

Please attribute comment to Dr Helen Skinner, Incident Controller, Canterbury and West Coast DHBs Emergency... read more about West Coast DHB updates its visitor policy»

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Featured – Health news

Surgical masks introduced for all DHB staff and visitors

Monday 24 January 2022

Under the RED setting, it’s business as usual with surgery and outpatient appointments going ahead, and only minor... read more about Surgical masks introduced for all DHB staff and visitors»

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Featured – Health news

Updated visitor guidance under COVID-19 Alert Level 1 for West Coast DHB facilities

Thursday 11 June 2020Quick Read

Under Alert Level 1, the public can expect to see fewer restrictions in place in terms of physical distancing... read more about Updated visitor guidance under COVID-19 Alert Level 1 for West Coast DHB facilities»

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Featured – Health news

Updated visitor guidance under COVID-19 Alert Level 2 for West Coast DHB facilities

Friday 15 May 2020Quick Read

As we settle into Alert Level 2, and more of us are getting out and about our best defence against the spread of... read more about Updated visitor guidance under COVID-19 Alert Level 2 for West Coast DHB facilities»

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Featured – Health news

Updated visitor guidance under COVID-19 Alert Level 3 for West Coast DHB facilities

Thursday 30 April 2020Quick 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... read more about Updated visitor guidance under COVID-19 Alert Level 3 for West Coast DHB facilities»

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Showing 1-6 of 6 results, page 1 of 1.

Page last updated: 15 August 2022

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