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

WCDHB newsletter

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9 news items.

Featured – Health news

West Coast Pānui – 11 November 2022

Thursday 10 November 2022Quick Read

Read the Te Tai o Poutini | West Coast Pānui via ISSUU or PDF – both available on our website. You can also navigate... read more about West Coast Pānui – 11 November 2022»

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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 – 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 – Focus on People

Focus on People – Quality Accounts Newsletter for 2018

Tuesday 18 December 2018Quick Read

Focus on People is West Coast DHB’s special newsletter, published at the end of every year. This special 2018 edition... read more about Focus on People – Quality Accounts Newsletter for 2018»

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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 – 11 November 2020

Wednesday 11 November 2020Quick Read

West Coast DHB's own newsletter. In this November edition of the CE Update, Acting Chief Executive Andrew Brant thanks... read more about CE Update – 11 November 2020»

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CE Update

CE Update – 27 March 2020

Friday 27 March 2020Quick Read

Articles in this update include: In this edition of the CE Update, Chief Executive David Meates provides an update on... read more about CE Update – 27 March 2020»

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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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CE Update

CE Update – 3 July 2019

Wednesday 3 July 2019Quick Read

Articles in this update include: In this July issue: Wellbeing Budget (David Meates) West Coast Health Facilities... read more about CE Update – 3 July 2019»

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