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COVID-19: Restricted visiting Waikato DHB hospitals

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Your health

COVID-19: Restricted visiting for all Te Whatu Ora Waikato hospitals 

Tiaki te whānau

Visitor guidelines

Supporting whānau/families if you have someone in hospital
Amohia ake te ora o te iwi, ka puta ki te wheiao.
To protect the wellbeing of our people is paramount.
Kiingi Tuuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero te tuawhitu

Whānau and friends play an important role in the wellbeing of patients, however, to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and other illnesses at our facilities we have a restricted visitor policy in place.

Please ensure you and your whānau understand and follow our visitor guidelines. 

Thank you for your support.

Keeping our patients safe – our visitor guidelines

Visiting hours are 11am-1.30pm and 4pm-8pm daily.

At this time no more than two visitors per patient are able to visit. No children under the age of 12 can visit.

Two support people may attend 24/7 in Delivery Suite and birthing facilities

A key support person may attend 24/7 in the following areas

  • Emergency Department
  • Women's Assessment Unit
  • Children’s areas
  • Intensive Care Unit

A key support person is someone who has been identified by the patient to have at their side during their stay. They may be a relative, partner, friend or anyone the patient chooses.

Wards: Each patient may have a maximum of two visitors at any one time may visit a patient in wards and clinics. This will include the key support person, so if two people want to visit the key support person will need to leave while they visit.

Clinics: Patients attending clinics can bring one support person with them to clinic.

Visitors must not enter our facilities if they or anyone in their household are unwell, or isolating for COVID-19.

Sometimes increased safety protocols may be required, such as all visitors to have a rapid antigen test (RAT) prior to entry at specific locations. This helps us to prevent or control local outbreaks.

Any additional visitors will be at the discretion of the charge nurse manager, charge midwife manager, or out of hours, the duty nurse manager prior to arrival.

Respecting patient spaces

Ko te matua o te whakaaro, ko te hunga tūroro e noho nei. Me whakaaro pērā tātou katoa. No reira, anei ētahi tikanga hei āwhina i te hunga tūroro, ki te peka mai koe/koutou ko te whānau.

Patient safety is always our priority.

Everyone visiting our sites must

  • wear a surgical mask at all times while indoors. If you do not have one, we can provide one for you
  • not eat in patient areas as this means removing masks and increases the risk of spreading illness to others. You are welcome to bring in food/kai for yourself or a loved one but please use designated public areas, whānau rooms or go outside (weather permitting). Avoid eating from the same plate to reduce the risk of sharing illness. 
    Ask staff for public eating locations
  • use hand sanitiser provided before entering and after leaving the patient’s room
  • maintain physical distancing where possible

Visitors must follow all instructions from the patient’s healthcare team and the security team.

Tips for keeping in touch

Who can help you stay in touch with your loved one in hospital?

Our staff understand it is a difficult time when you have someone you care about in hospital.

  • Our nurses, social workers, kaitiaki and chaplains are here to support you and your loved one and to be the connection if you are not able to visit
  • If your loved one is in isolation* the nurse caring for them will be the key contact for whānau/family
  • A virtual whānau hui with clinicians can be arranged if requested by the patient

*when a person is in quarantine because of infectious disease. 

Chaplains

Our chaplains provide pastoral and spiritual care for all who seek it, regardless of religious or cultural background. Ask ward staff to request a chaplain for you or phone 07 839 8899 and ask for the duty chaplain.  

Kaitiaki

Our kaitiaki are here to offer hauora advice and understanding about clinical cares, treatment, and cultural support for Māori and their whānau while they are in hospital. Ask ward staff to make a referral for kaitiaki support.

Virtual visits

We encourage patients and whānau to use technology where available to keep in touch.

Virtual visits are a great way to stay connected to your loved ones and support them during their stay in our facilities if you are unable to visit in person. 

There is free wifi within all Te Whatu Ora – Waikato hospitals. Patients can use their own devices (mobile phones/tablets/iPads) for video calls.