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COVID-19: Restricted visiting Waikato DHB hospitals

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Your health

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.

From Friday 4 November our visiting guidelines are changing to reflect the increased level of COVID-19 in the community and COVID-19 positive patients receiving care at Waikato Hospital.

This means some visitor restrictions and infection prevention measures must be bought back at some of our wards at Waikato Hospital to help keep our most vulnerable people safe, while other areas maintain their current visitor policy.

All wards in the MENZIES BUILDING of Waikato Hospital will be limited to one visitor per patient. The wards affected are M2, M3, M4, M5, M6, M7, M8, M12, M14, M16, M17, M18 and Cardiac Care wards 1, 2 and 3.

All wards in the OLDER PERSONS AND REHABILITATION BUILDING of Waikato Hospital will be limited to one visitor per patient. The wards affected are OPR1, OPR2, OPR3, OPR4 and OPR5.

We understand the importance whānau and friends play in the recovery of our patients but due to the size of the bed spaces in these wards and the nature of the building’s airflow this is a necessary step to keep our patients, their whānau and our staff safe.

Anyone intending on visiting Waikato Hospital over this period is encouraged to contact patient enquiries on 07 839 8899 to ensure you are informed if the person you intend visiting is able to take visitors.

These additional restrictions only affect wards in the Menzies Building and the Older Persons and Rehabilitation Building of the Waiora Waikato Hospital campus.

All other areas of Waikato Hospital and other hospitals in the Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand Waikato district maintain our current visitor policy at this time:

  • A maximum of two visitors may visit a patient in wards at any one time
  • 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
  • No children under the age of 12 can visit at this time

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

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.

Everyone visiting our sites must:

  • wear a surgical mask at all times while on site (or increased PPE if instructed by clinical staff)
  • use hand sanitiser on entry and exit from our facilities
  • maintain physical distancing

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.

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.

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.