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

Mental wellbeing

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  2. Your health
  3. Mental health
  4. Mental wellbeing

It’s OK to ask for help

If you need IMMEDIATE help, phone your local mental health crisis team on 0800 757 678. Healthinfo has a handy list of people you can contact if you, a friend or family member needs help.

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Feeling down on the farm

Farming can be a hard and isolating industry, with a history of associated depression and mental health issues. The Rural Health Alliance Aotearoa New Zealand (HRANZ) has put together a document with practical advice for mental wellness on the farm.

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Alchohol and drugs: are they really that dangerous?

Some drugs are more harmful than others, but it can be hard to know what the real deal is. NZ Drug Foundation has a tool to help you understand drugs and alcohol and what they do to your body.

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Is my gambling a mental health problem?

The Problem Gambling Foundation has information to help you identify if you have a problem with gambling, whether it is connected to other mental health issues, and how to find help dealing with gambling.

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Depression: It’s not just “feeling sad”

Depression is an illness like any other: it’s not your fault if you have depression, and there are proven effective treatments. Read more about how depression might affect you or a loved one and what you can do.

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Do the drugs work? Or do they make it worse?

A lot of different medications can be used to improve mental health, and they can have different effects on you. Healthinfo and Hillmorton Hospital Pharmacy have factsheets on mental health treatments, including nicotine replacement therapy for smokers.

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Page last updated: 17 April 2019

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