New Zealand (apart from the greater Auckland region) is moving to ‘COVID-19 Alert Level 2’ at 11:59PM Tuesday, and the Canterbury DHB has made changes to its visitor restrictions – effective tomorrow, 8 September.

 Under Level 2 visitor access for all Canterbury DHB health facilities will continue to be restricted.  Don’t visit the hospital if you don’t need to.

 CDHB Emergency Coordination Centre Controller Dr Helen Skinner said restrictions are in place for all Canterbury DHB hospitals and health facilities meaning all visitors need to scan in or sign in on arrival and provide their contact details. All visitors must wear a mask or fabric face-covering. All visitors are expected to practice safe physical distancing. You should remain two metres away from people you don’t know. Visitors who are unwell should not be entering facilities. Everyone, including visitors, should practise good hand hygiene.

 Visiting hours for Christchurch Hospital are from 3pm – 8pm with only one person visiting at a time. Exceptions can be made by charge nurse managers. For example, exceptions will be considered on compassionate grounds including for end of life care. For children, parents and caregivers can visit at any time, and both parents and caregivers can visit at the same time

Anyone with planned elective surgery or an outpatient appointment should turn up as planned, if there’s any change to your appointment you will be contacted.

Due to the ongoing need to maintain physical distancing, support people will only be allowed at Christchurch outpatients by exception only. If you need a support person with you at your appointment, call the number on your outpatient appointment letter to arrange this. Some outpatient appointments will continue to be carried out ‘virtually’ either over the phone or by a video/zoom call.

The visiting hours at Burwood Hospital are 11am – 7pm with only one person visiting at a time for each patient. Only one support person can attend with a patient for outpatient appointments and planned/elective surgery. Exceptions: Charge Nurse Managers can assess requests on a case by case basis.

For Christchurch Women’s Hospital, Rangiora Health Hub maternity, Lincoln Maternity, Ashburton Maternity, one support person only to accompany someone presenting for acute assessment. Women in labour in a maternity facility are allowed two support partners for the duration of the labour and birth. Women who are having an elective caesarean section are allowed one support person. For the duration of their postnatal stay a woman can have one named support person who will be able to visit. Siblings of the new baby may accompany this person as long as they are well Outpatient appointments (including Fetal Maternal Medicine) – a support person will only be permitted under specific criteria – e.g. a person’s carer/support person is required to be with them due to complex needs/diagnosis/or clinical procedures. St Georges Maternity Unit is also following the same guidelines.

One person may visit once per day during Hillmorton Hospital and The Princess Margaret Hospital visiting hours. One support person per outpatient. Additional people will be considered by the Clinical/Charge Nurse Manager or Duty Nurse Manager (after hours). This must be by prior arrangement to ensure that we can meet physical distancing requirements.

Visiting hours at  Ashburton Hospital are as normal, but: One visitor at a time – although more than one person can visit each day. One support person per outpatient. One support person to accompany someone to the Ashburton Acute Assessment Unit. Exceptions: Nurse Managers can assess requests on a case by case basis.

 At Age-Related Residential Care facilities managed by Canterbury DHB: Oxford Hospital, Darfield Hospital, Ellesmere Hospital, Waikari Hospital, Tuarangi Home, and to ensure the safety of patients, all of whom are aged over 65, visitors to the Aged Residential Care part of this facility are only allowed by prior appointment. Please contact the facility to discuss with the manager. There may be a separate entrance for visitors, please check with staff.

 The hospital shuttle service from the Deans Ave car park is running as normal.