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

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18 news items.

Featured – Health news

Innovative teamwork brings tertiary centre exam to the West Coast

Monday 17 March 2025Quick Read

Innovative teamwork between Health New Zealand West Coast staff and Christchurch-based colleagues has resulted in... read more about Innovative teamwork brings tertiary centre exam to the West Coast»

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Featured – Health news

Alternate care plans in place as Buller Health services temporarily operating at reduced capacity

Thursday 22 June 2023Quick Read

Buller Health’s health care services will be temporarily operating at reduced capacity with changes to some of our... read more about Alternate care plans in place as Buller Health services temporarily operating at reduced capacity»

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Featured – Health news

Cancers detected earlier thanks to free screening and easier tests

Monday 12 June 2023

Almost two dozen West Coasters have had cancers detected much earlier and have improved their opportunities for... read more about Cancers detected earlier thanks to free screening and easier tests»

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Featured – Health news

West Coasters urged to ‘Have a safe-as summer’

Tuesday 20 December 2022

West Coasters are being urged to ‘Have a safe-as summer’ by planning ahead before the summer holidays begin... read more about West Coasters urged to ‘Have a safe-as summer’»

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Featured – Health news

Reporting your rapid antigen test result essential to getting the support you need

Tuesday 9 August 2022

With COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses continuing to circulate within the community, we’re reminding West... read more about Reporting your rapid antigen test result essential to getting the support you need»

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Featured – Health news

RAT test collection sites open across Coast

Friday 4 March 2022Quick Read

Please attribute to Philip Wheble, EOC Incident Controller, West Coast DHB. Now we are in phase three of the Omicron... read more about RAT test collection sites open across Coast»

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Featured – Health news

COVID-19 testing capacity set to increase today

Wednesday 23 February 2022Quick Read

To be attributed to Tracey Maisey, ECC Incident Controller, Canterbury & West Coast DHBs. In preparation for an... read more about COVID-19 testing capacity set to increase today»

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Featured – Health news

Health advice during severe weather event – update 3

Thursday 3 February 2022

Please attribute to Philip Wheble, Incident Controller – West Coast DHB Today our West Coast DHB teams have continued... read more about Health advice during severe weather event – update 3»

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Featured – Health news

Introduction of the traffic light system is a timely reminder to get tested if you have visited a location of interest

Friday 3 December 2021Quick Read

Please attribute to Dr Cheryl Brunton, Medical Officer of Health. The transition to the traffic light system is a... read more about Introduction of the traffic light system is a timely reminder to get tested if you have visited a location of interest»

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Featured – Health news

West Coast DHB’s COVID-19 testing clinics

Friday 29 October 2021Quick Read

Please note:  The info on this page has now been removed as it is no longer current and keeping it posted here could... read more about West Coast DHB’s COVID-19 testing clinics»

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Featured – Health news

Cases of Delta COVID-19 in Canterbury a timely reminder to get tested if you are unwell

Thursday 28 October 2021Quick Read

With the overnight news that two cases of Delta COVID-19 have been identified in Canterbury, the most important thing... read more about Cases of Delta COVID-19 in Canterbury a timely reminder to get tested if you are unwell»

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Featured – Health news

Auckland and Coromandel travellers asked to get tested and self-isolate

Thursday 19 August 2021Quick Read

Due to the community outbreak of COVID-19 in Auckland, anyone who has travelled to any of the locations of interest in... read more about Auckland and Coromandel travellers asked to get tested and self-isolate»

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Featured – Health news

Melbourne travellers asked to get tested and self-isolate

Friday 28 May 2021Quick Read

Due to the community outbreak of COVID-19 in Victoria, anyone who has travelled to and spent time in the Greater... read more about Melbourne travellers asked to get tested and self-isolate»

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Featured – Health news

Busy weekend of events offers a timely reminder to stay home if you are unwell

Thursday 12 November 2020Quick Read

With the influx of visitors expected on the Coast this weekend, the West Coast DHB is setting up a COVID-19 testing... read more about Busy weekend of events offers a timely reminder to stay home if you are unwell»

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Featured – Health news

Further changes made to West Coast CBACs

Tuesday 2 June 2020Quick Read

West Coast DHB recently signalled it would be reviewing the operation of its COVID-19 testing facilities in line with... read more about Further changes made to West Coast CBACs»

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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

West Coast DHB to continue mobile COVID-19 sentinel testing across the Coast

Tuesday 12 May 2020Quick Read

West Coast DHB will continue undertaking COVID-19 sentinel testing as part of its response to the current pandemic to... read more about West Coast DHB to continue mobile COVID-19 sentinel testing across the Coast»

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CE Update

CE Update – 11 November 2020

Wednesday 11 November 2020Quick Read

West Coast DHB's own newsletter. In this November edition of the CE Update, Acting Chief Executive Andrew Brant thanks... read more about CE Update – 11 November 2020»

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Showing 1-18 of 18 results, page 1 of 1.

Page last updated: 17 March 2025

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