HOSPITAL VISITING

All hospital visitors are recommended to wear a medical face mask. For more information about visiting: Visitors and family. See our COVID-19 page for general COVID-19 advice, detailed hospital visiting guidelines and COVID-19 tests.

See West Coast COVID-19 vaccination clinics for info on vaccinations link COVID-19 Vaccination • West Coast • Healthpoint

Last updated:
16 September 2022

Fewer visitor restrictions now apply

For visitors to all facilities (effective from and last updated on 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

COVID-19

  1. Home
  2. Your health
  3. COVID-19
  4. COVID-19

COVID-19 cases

Detailed information about current cases of COVID-19 on the West Coast is available on the Ministry of Health website.

Cases information on the Ministry of Health website

Access to healthcare and visitor restrictions on the Coast

Fewer visitor restrictions now apply

Visitor restrictions (including people attending outpatient appointments)

Some visitor restrictions for all Te Whatu Ora Te Tai o Poutini West Coast health care facilities remain in place, but we have relaxed others.

There is still a heightened risk to vulnerable people in hospital and so we recommend all people wear a mask when visiting any of our facilities and follow other advice designed to keep patients, staff and 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 may have more than one visitor, except in some situations such as multi-bed rooms where it can cause overcrowding.
  • Surgical/medical masks are recommended to be worn at all sites. Masks will be provided if you don’t have one.
  • For Specialist Mental Health Services everyone is strongly encouraged to wear a face mask in all inpatient areas and areas where consumers are receiving care (i.e.) community appointments, home-visits, transporting people. Discretion may be applied in cases where masks impair your ability to communicate effectively.
  • Visitors must not eat or drink in multibed rooms because of the increased risk when multiple people remove their face 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.

Visiting patients with COVID-19

  • People can 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.

All of our facilities

Visiting hours for Te Nīkau Hospital and Buller Health (acute care unit and maternity unit) are outlined below.

All visitors are recommended to wear a medical face mask.

Parents/caregivers are able to be with their child in hospital and visitors are now allowed.

Visiting hours

Visiting hours remain unchanged.

Te Nīkau Hospital & Health Centre

Children's Ward8:00am - 8:00pm
Critical Care Unit10:00am - 01:00pm
03:00pm - 08:00pm
General Ward10:00am - 02:00pm
04:00pm - 08:00pm
Maternity Ward10:00am - 12:00pm
04:00pm - 08:00pm
Manaakitanga Mental Health Unit02:00pm - 08:00pm

Buller Health Centre

Acute services
10:00am - 02:00pm
03:30pm - 08:00pm
Maternity10:00am - 02:00pm
04:00pm - 08:00pm

COVID-19 related media releases

View a listing of media releases related to COVID-19.

Latest updates

More COVID-19 related health information can be found on the Ministry of Health website www.health.govt.nz/covid-19

For information about the national response to COVID-19, go to www.covid19.govt.nz

COVID-19 Testing (including: RAT – ‘RAT tests’)

COVID-19 testing – updated 11 August 2022

Rapid antigen tests (RATs) are available across the Coast. There is no criteria. You don’t need to be unwell or have symptoms. Anyone who needs RATs can collect a free pack for you and your whānau from a RAT collection site.

RAT collection site details are available online at: COVID-19 Testing • West Coast • Healthpoint

Before going to a collection site, please place an order online here: https://requestrats.covid19.health.nz/ OR free call 0800 222 478 between 8am – 8pm (7 days).

Free face masks are also available from RAT collections sites (subject to availability).

How to use a Rapid Antigen Test – Source: www.health.govt.nz

Remember to report your RAT result

You should report the results of your rapid antigen test (RAT) if you test positive or negative. You can do this online through My Covid Record.  Log in to the site, click ‘Report a test result’, and follow the steps.

If you are having trouble using My Covid Record, you can report the results of your RAT over the phone by calling 0800 222 478 and choose option 3.

If you get a positive rapid antigen test (RAT) result:

  • this does not need to be confirmed with a PCR test unless advised otherwise
  • you do not need another test before you end your isolation period

You can also report a RAT result for someone else through your own My Covid Record account. To make a report on behalf of someone else you will need their NHI number, full name and date of birth.

If the person you’re reporting for doesn’t have an NHI number call 0800 222 478 and press 3.

COVID-19 Vaccinations

For information about the COVID-19 vaccination rollout on the West Coast, please visit West Coast COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics

What can you do?

Protect yourself and others

As per Ministry of Health Guidelines:

  • Stay at home if you feel unwell
  • If you are unwell, then phone your GP or the Healthline
  • Keep going with good hygiene practices. Sneeze or cough into your elbow, wash and clean hands with soap or antiseptic hand cleaner.
  • Face coverings / masks are not compulsory but consider using these when unable to keep physical distance – for example in the supermarket.
  • Keep safe distances from people when out and about
  • Continue to use the tracking app or personal record of places you visit

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.

Exception card for face masks

We know that some people who have a disability or health condition may not be able to wear a face mask safely or comfortably. If you cannot wear one, you can get a communication card. You can show your communication card when needed, for example to a taxi driver.

More information including how to apply for a face mask communication card is available on the Ministry of Health’s website – here.

 

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.

Tags

Page last updated: 11 December 2023

Is this page useful?