Level 2

New Zealand is currently at Alert Level 2 – Reduce. More information on our alert level

Total Covid-19 case numbers (combined confirmed and probable) by Territorial Authority in the West Coast DHB region, as at 9am, 30 May 2020.

	Buller District	Grey District	Westland District	All West Coast DHB
Total cases (confirmed and probable)	0	4	1	5

 

Privacy statement: To protect the privacy of individuals we will not be providing any further information on individual cases.

Changes at West Coast DHB hospitals and health centres

We’ve activated the West Coast DHB Emergency Coordination Centre, which is working with the Ministry of Health (National Health Coordination Centre), other DHBs, and our community partners to ensure a coordinated, timely and effective response.

We are working closely with all our health partners to ensure we are responding effectively as a system to provide appropriate and timely care to those who need it.

Visitor restrictions

Under COVID-19 Alert Level 2 visitor access for all West Coast DHB health facilities will continue to be restricted. Please remember, limiting our interactions with others is our best defence against COVID-19. Please don’t visit the hospital if you don’t need to.

The following visitor restrictions are in place for all West Coast DHB health facilities:

• All visitors will be assessed at the entry to ensure they meet the exception criteria and will be required to register their details
• Visitors who are unwell or have suspicion of COVID-19 will not be able to enter
• Children under the age of 16 will not be able to visit
• Aged residential care visitors:
  • Visits are limited to a designated visitor, by appointment and sign in process.
  • Lengths of visits and visiting areas will be determined at the discretion of the provider.
  • Health screening and assessment of visitors will be completed before entering the facility.
  • Visitors must follow the DHB infection prevention and control measures, for example hand hygiene, physical distancing and appropriate use of PPE.

Related: Grey Base Hospital Visitor hours

Grey Base Hospital and Buller Health

Buller Health Services – What you need to know

Please check our information leaflet, which contains key information about our services during the alert level 2 phase and beyond.

Grey Base Hospital and Buller Health

Unless otherwise stated – for most inpatient ward areas at Grey Base Hospital, it’s still one visitor at a time but we are now allowing more than one person to visit a patient each day during visiting hours. Each visitor can only visit once.

Visitors are now allowed in our high risk areas where our most vulnerable patients are or where patients are in isolation but this is confined to one visitor per patient per day. Exceptions may be made on compassionate grounds on a case-by-case basis for end of life care of patients who are not COVID-19 positive.

• Maternity services – women who have had an elective caesarean section can have one support person. Women in labour in a maternity facility are allowed two nominated support people from their extended bubble for the duration of the labour and birth. For the duration of postnatal stays, women can have one named support person from the same bubble who can visit once per day for any length of time between 10am and 8pm.
• Buller Health’s Foote Ward and Kawatiri Maternity visiting hours are from 10am to 2pm and 3.30pm to 8pm.

Flu vaccinations

• The flu vaccine is available now for people most at-risk of developing a serious illness from influenza. This is to help protect the more vulnerable members of our community, given the additional current health risks from COVID-19.
• A free flu shot is available from your GP team if you have certain chronic conditions, or for your child aged 4 or under if they have a history of severe respiratory illness.
• A free flu shot is available from many pharmacies or your GP team if you are over 65 or pregnant.
• The flu vaccine does not protect you against COVD-19, however, it can help you prevent a serious illness from flu and help reduce demand on our health system.
• The flu vaccine will be available for the wider public from Monday 13 April.

Infection prevention and control

• Our Infection Prevention and Control team continues to advise staff across the system on ways to control the potential spread of infection, including enhanced cleaning protocols, isolation procedures and the correct use of personal protective equipment.

Staff working from home

• Staff that can work at home without affecting the smooth running of our health system have been instructed to work from home, to reduce the risk spread in the health environment and out into the community.

 

COVID-19 related media releases

Friday 22 May 2020 – Buller residents can continue to access their health care teams during COVID-19 alert level two

Friday 22 May 2020 – West Coast DHB’s COVID-19 community-based assessment centres reduce hours of operation

Friday 15 May 2020 – Updated visitor guidance under COVID-19 Alert Level 2 for West Coast DHB facilities

Tuesday 12 May 2020 – Blessing marks an important milestone for Te Nikau Grey Hospital and Health Centre

Tuesday 12 May 2020 – West Coast DHB to continue mobile COVID-19 sentinel testing across the Coast

Friday 01 May 2020 – West Coast DHB to start further mobile COVID-19 sentinel testing on the Coast

Thursday 30 April 2020 – Restrictions remain in place during alert level three to protect the West Coast community

Thursday 30 April 2020 – Updated visitor guidance under COVID-19 Alert Level 3 for West Coast DHB facilities

Monday 20 April 2020 – Needing a prescription for your regular medicines?

Monday 20 April 2020 – Home and Community Support Workers continue to provide care during COVID-19 Alert Level 4

Thursday 09 April 2020 – Fifth case of COVID-19 confirmed on the West Coast

Wednesday 08 April 2020 – Coasters can still access their general practice team for health care appointments

Monday 06 April 2020 – Online form now available for expressions of interest to work in the health system

Monday 06 April 2020 – Fourth case of COVID-19 confirmed on the West Coast

Friday 03 April 2020 – Drive-through clinic targets Māori and other prioritised patients

Sunday 29 March 2020 – COVID-19 Statement from West Coast DHB

Saturday 28 March 2020 – Two further cases of COVID-19 confirmed on the West Coast

Friday 27 March 2020 – All Coast GP Practices have changed the way they are operating

Friday 27 March 2020 – COVID-19 Alert Level Four – Updated hospital and clinic visitor policy

Thursday 26 March 2020 – First COVID-19 case confirmed on the West Coast

Wednesday 25 March 2020 – Temporary changes to limit visitor numbers at West Coast DHB facilities have been implemented

Monday 23 March 2020 – West Coast flu campaign underway

What can you do?

Look after your wellbeing

• If you or someone you know needs wellbeing support or advice, call or text 1737 to speak with a trained counsellor. This confidential service is free of charge and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There’s useful and practical information available for those at home in isolation on the government’s website COVID19.govt.nz

Be kind

• Canterbury has been through a lot, and we will get through this too. We’re stronger together. Remember to check in on the elderly or vulnerable by phone or video call, and call for specialist help (health or welfare for example) if it is needed. Make a difference by dropping off supplies to those who are home sick and ‘virtually’ check in with whānau, friends and neighbours who are in isolation.

Stay home

• You must stay home unless you work in an essential service. We all need to do everything in our power to break the chain of possible transmission of COVID-19 (and other viruses) in our communities. While in isolation at home you can still go out for a walk, but please keep at least two metres away from others.

Protect yourself and others

• Wash your hands with soap and water often (for at least 20 seconds). Then dry.
• Cough or sneeze into your elbow or by covering your mouth and nose with tissues.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects, such as doorknobs. Put used tissues in the bin or a bag immediately. Stay home if you feel unwell.
• Don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean.
• Put used tissues in the bin or a bag immediately.
• Stay home if you feel unwell.

About COVID-19

COVID-19 (formerly known as novel coronavirus) is a respiratory illness that can be transmitted from person to person through droplets. It has spread to every continent except Antarctica and over 170 countries and territories have laboratory-confirmed cases.

It appears that most cases identified to date have mild to moderate illness. In severe cases, though, the virus can cause pneumonia and severe acute respiratory infection.

How to access Healthcare

• If you need to see a Doctor or other medical professional you MUST phone first.
• Most consultations will happen over the phone (or by videoconference) to stop any risk of the disease spreading by person to person contact.
• If a face to face meeting is required, your doctor or other medical professional will organise this with you.
• If you cannot get through and are severely unwell, for example having trouble breathing, don’t hesitate to call emergency services (dial 111).

When should I seek medical advice?

If you are concerned about any COVID-19 symptoms you are experiencing, please contact Healthline (for free) on 0800 358 5453 or your doctor.

More information about accessing healthcare can be found on www.covid19.govt.nz

New Zealand citizens and residents returning home

Public health staff are working with border agencies to ensure New Zealand citizens and residents returning home are screened as they enter the country, and aware of the need to self-isolate and understand what that entails. Self-isolation means avoiding situations where you could infect other people. People who have to self-isolate are also asked to register with Healthline’s COVID-19 advice line by phoning 0800 358 5453.

Staff at airports and ports have information on hand that advises people what to look out for and what to do if they get symptoms.

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