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

Wellbeing

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Buller flooding – July 2021

The COVID-19 Level 4 Lockdown comes at a particularly difficult time for those in Buller who have had to move out of their homes or are living in yellow-stickered homes.

If you’re feeling in need of talking to someone – call or text 1737 – any time of day or night.

Some of you will be living in houses that are potentially mouldy. Being outside when the weather permits is healthy and good for general wellbeing. Make sure you’re within the Covid-19 guidelines – stay in your bubble, maintain physical distancing, and keep walks short, local, and for essential exercise only. And keep an eye on the kids – the soil might be contaminated and digging in the dirt in flood-affected areas is not recommended.

More…

 

Free stress and wellbeing training courses in Buller

Wellbeing representatives are concerned COVID-19 lockdown stresses on top of flooding issues are stretching Buller folk’s ability to manage.

West Coast DHB Director of Allied Health Jane George says the various organisations supporting the psychosocial and wellbeing of Kawatiri folk had noticed that the pressures of the COVID-19 Delta Level 4 lockdown on top of issues from the recent flooding were taking its toll.

More…

 

Buller Men’s health & wellbeing: Adapting Positively to a Changed Reality

The July 2021 flooding event in Buller came at a time when many local people were still dealing with the effects of the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown.

And then a further lockdown in 2021 has added more complications and stress. Recognising that these events will have impacted on men’s health and wellbeing, a number of community organisations have been working on ways to help men through.

More…

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Page last updated: 24 September 2021

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