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

Safety

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30 news items.

Featured – Health news

** BULLER HEALTH HAS EVACUATED **

Thursday 10 February 2022Quick Read

Buller Health has relocated health services to the Masonic Lodge, 51 Russell Street, Westport. If you live north of... read more about ** BULLER HEALTH HAS EVACUATED **»

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Featured – Health news

Health advice following West Coast Floods – Update 1 – Sunday 18 July 11.30am

Sunday 18 July 2021

Westport Buller Health evacuated 11 patients last night to Club Buller in Queen Street. An additional six patients were... read more about Health advice following West Coast Floods – Update 1 – Sunday 18 July 11.30am»

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Featured – Health news

***BULLER HEALTH HAS BEEN EVACUATED***

Saturday 17 July 2021Quick Read

Due to rising flood waters, eleven patients, staff and supplies from Buller Health have relocated to Club Buller in... read more about ***BULLER HEALTH HAS BEEN EVACUATED***»

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Featured – Health news

West Coast Serious Adverse Events 2019/20

Monday 14 December 2020Quick Read

Inpatient falls continue to be the major serious adverse event reported by West Coast DHB for the 2019/20 financial... read more about West Coast Serious Adverse Events 2019/20»

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Featured – Health news

West Coast DHB makes changes to visiting at its facilities following Alert level 2 announcement

Thursday 13 August 2020Quick Read

Please attribute comment to Dr Graham Roper, Medical Director – West Coast District Health Board Following New... read more about West Coast DHB makes changes to visiting at its facilities following Alert level 2 announcement»

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Featured – Health news

Updated visitor guidance under COVID-19 Alert Level 1 for West Coast DHB facilities

Thursday 11 June 2020Quick Read

Under Alert Level 1, the public can expect to see fewer restrictions in place in terms of physical distancing... read more about Updated visitor guidance under COVID-19 Alert Level 1 for West Coast DHB facilities»

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Featured – Health news

Buller residents can continue to access their health care teams during COVID-19 alert level two

Friday 22 May 2020Quick Read

West Coast DHB’s Manager Integrated Health Services – Northern, Deborah Wright today said that although there are... read more about Buller residents can continue to access their health care teams during COVID-19 alert level two»

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Featured – Health news

West Coast DHB’s COVID-19 community-based assessment centres reduce hours of operation

Friday 22 May 2020Quick Read

West Coast DHB’s COVID-19 community-based assessment centres (CBACs) have reduced their hours and are now open on... read more about West Coast DHB’s COVID-19 community-based assessment centres reduce hours of operation»

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Featured – Health news

Restrictions remain in place during alert level three to protect the West Coast community

Thursday 30 April 2020Quick Read

West Coast DHB General Manager Philip Wheble today said that under alert level three, the West Coast Health System... read more about Restrictions remain in place during alert level three to protect the West Coast community»

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Featured – Facilities News

All Coast GP Practices have changed the way they are operating

Friday 27 March 2020Quick Read

JOINT MEDIA RELEASE All West Coast general practices have restricted access to clinics in response to the current... read more about All Coast GP Practices have changed the way they are operating»

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Featured – Health news

COVID-19 Alert Level Four – Updated hospital and clinic visitor policy

Friday 27 March 2020Quick Read

  Canterbury and West Coast DHBs Chief Executive David Meates has today announced further significant changes to... read more about COVID-19 Alert Level Four – Updated hospital and clinic visitor policy»

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Featured – Health news

First COVID-19 case confirmed on the West Coast

Thursday 26 March 2020Quick Read

As announced by the Director-General of Health and the Ministry of Health on 26 March a person on the West Coast has... read more about First COVID-19 case confirmed on the West Coast»

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Featured – Media release

Traces of asbestos found in Westport Health Facilities

Thursday 29 August 2019Quick Read

Please attribute to Philip Wheble, General Manager – West Coast District Health Board West Coast DHB has closed... read more about Traces of asbestos found in Westport Health Facilities»

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Featured – Health news

Health Warning Lifted – Marine Biotoxin in Shellfish

Thursday 9 May 2019Quick Read

West Coast District Health Board’s Community and Public Health team has lifted a health warning advising the public... read more about Health Warning Lifted – Marine Biotoxin in Shellfish»

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Featured – Health news

West Coast DHB introduces Patientrack across the Coast

Friday 22 February 2019Quick Read

West Coast District Health Board (West Coast DHB) has started implementing Patientrack, a new digital patient... read more about West Coast DHB introduces Patientrack across the Coast»

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Featured – Health news

Avoiding a Legionnaires’ Spring Spike

Tuesday 23 October 2018Quick Read

West Coast gardeners are being urged to take care with potting mix and compost to prevent a spike in Legionnaires’... read more about Avoiding a Legionnaires’ Spring Spike»

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Health news

Drive-through clinic targets Māori and other prioritised patients

Friday 3 April 2020Quick Read

Patients received medical care in their cars at a Poutini Waiora and Grey Medical Centre flu vaccination drive-through... read more about Drive-through clinic targets Māori and other prioritised patients»

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Health news

West Coast flu campaign underway

Monday 23 March 2020Quick Read

This year’s influenza immunisation programme has started early on the West Coast with flu vaccines initially... read more about West Coast flu campaign underway»

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Media release

Grey Base large pohutakawa pruning to take place

Tuesday 13 March 2018Quick Read

A tree expert has advised the West Coast DHB that the large pohutakawa on the north-eastern side of the Corporate block... read more about Grey Base large pohutakawa pruning to take place»

Media release

Coast pertussis cases on the rise

Friday 9 March 2018Quick Read

Pregnant women and babies under one need to be vaccinated against pertussis (whooping cough), Medical Officer of Health... read more about Coast pertussis cases on the rise»

Media release

Public health advice, including how to stay safe in the aftermath of flooding

Friday 2 February 2018Quick Read

The following advice is issued by Canterbury and West Coast Community and Public Health and applies to areas of the... read more about Public health advice, including how to stay safe in the aftermath of flooding»

Media release

Buller Health evacuating some palliative and aged residential care patients due to concerns over potential flooding

Thursday 1 February 2018Quick Read

West Coast District Health Board is evacuating nine patients from its Buller Health Facility due to concerns with... read more about Buller Health evacuating some palliative and aged residential care patients due to concerns over potential flooding»

Media release

Reefton experiences gastroenteritis outbreak

Friday 26 January 2018Quick Read

Over the past week a number of Reefton people have experienced diarrhoea and vomiting.  Tests have confirmed viral... read more about Reefton experiences gastroenteritis outbreak»

Media release

Independent assessment of O’Conor Home shows no concerns

Thursday 18 January 2018Quick Read

An independent audit has not identified any significant issues at Westport's aged residential care facility O'Conor... read more about Independent assessment of O’Conor Home shows no concerns»

Media release

Grey Base overbridge to close 8 January

Thursday 14 December 2017Quick Read

The overbridge connecting the main street of Greymouth with the Grey Base Hospital will be closed for 10 days from... read more about Grey Base overbridge to close 8 January»

Media release

Be mindful of mumps

Thursday 23 November 2017Quick Read

While tests showed two suspected cases of mumps reported in the past few weeks on the West Coast were not actually... read more about Be mindful of mumps»

Media release

West Coast focuses on falls prevention in community

Tuesday 30 May 2017Quick Read

In an effort to reduce the number of falls experienced by people on the West Coast, a programme of community awareness... read more about West Coast focuses on falls prevention in community»

Media release

West Coast focuses on falls prevention

Thursday 10 November 2016Quick Read

The number of falls experienced by patients of the West Coast health system shows there is more preventative work to be... read more about West Coast focuses on falls prevention»

Media release

Take care when gardening!

Monday 10 October 2016Quick Read

West Coasters are being urged to follow some simple steps in order to avoid getting a serious illness linked to... read more about Take care when gardening!»

Media release

Safety concerns close hospital footbridge

Tuesday 23 August 2016Quick Read

A 140-year-old footbridge over railway lines linking Cowper St to the current Grey Base Hospital has been closed... read more about Safety concerns close hospital footbridge»

Showing 1-30 of 30 results, page 1 of 1.

Page last updated: 10 February 2022

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