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 restrictions

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15 news items.

Featured – Health news

Te Whatu Ora Te Tai o Poutini West Coast reduces visitor restrictions

Friday 16 September 2022

From today, some visitor restrictions at all Te Whatu Ora Te Tai o Poutini West Coast health facilities have been... read more about Te Whatu Ora Te Tai o Poutini West Coast reduces visitor restrictions»

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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

“Contact your general practice team first” is the message from clinicians as we head into winter

Tuesday 31 May 2022Quick Read

In response to a significant demand for health care services, West Coasters are being asked to contact their general... read more about “Contact your general practice team first” is the message from clinicians as we head into winter»

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Featured – Health news

West Coast DHB updates its visitor policy

Tuesday 17 May 2022Quick Read

Please attribute comment to Philip Wheble, General Manager – West Coast DHB West Coast DHB is updating its visitor... read more about West Coast DHB updates its visitor policy»

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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

COVID-19 Delta Alert Level 2 – access to healthcare and visitor restrictions on the Coast

Tuesday 7 September 2021

Please attribute comment to Philip Wheble, West Coast DHB Emergency Coordination Centre (ECC) Controller: Under... read more about COVID-19 Delta Alert Level 2 – access to healthcare and visitor restrictions on the Coast»

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Featured – Health news

COVID-19 Alert Level 3 – access to healthcare and visitor restrictions on the Coast

Wednesday 1 September 2021Quick Read

COVID-19 Alert Level 3 – access to healthcare and visitor restrictions on the Coast Under COVID-19 Alert Level 3,... read more about COVID-19 Alert Level 3 – access to healthcare and visitor restrictions on the Coast»

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Featured – Health news

Health advice following West Coast Floods – Update 6

Friday 23 July 2021

Friday 23 July 2021 – 6.00pm Please attribute comment to Philip Wheble, Incident Controller, West Coast DHB Thank you... read more about Health advice following West Coast Floods – Update 6»

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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 4

Tuesday 20 July 2021

Tuesday 20 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 4»

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Featured – Health news

West Coast DHB makes changes to visiting as cases of respiratory illness rise in community

Tuesday 13 July 2021Quick Read

Following an increase in viral respiratory illness being seen in the community, West Coast DHB has made changes to... read more about West Coast DHB makes changes to visiting as cases of respiratory illness rise in community»

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Featured – Health news

Help keep our tamariki well by keeping bugs like RSV away from babies/pēpi

Saturday 10 July 2021Quick Read

A common winter virus called RSV is currently spreading across New Zealand and making babies/pēpi sick. RSV is... read more about Help keep our tamariki well by keeping bugs like RSV away from babies/pēpi»

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Featured – Health news

West Coat DHB health facilities return to Alert Level 1 restrictions

Monday 8 March 2021Quick Read

Media Release 8 March 2021 West Coat DHB health facilities return to Alert Level 1 restrictions With the drop back down... read more about West Coat DHB health facilities return to Alert Level 1 restrictions»

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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 1-15 of 15 results, page 1 of 1.

Page last updated: 16 September 2022

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