Information for Visitors
Please check with ward reception on arrival to ensure your family member or friend is accepting visitors.
In general, wards are open to visitors between 2pm and 8pm, but there are some exceptions. Some wards provide a “patient rest period” and visitors are not admitted during this time. Because visiting times vary across the hospital, it pays to ask ward staff what hours they are currently open.
Visiting Coronary Care, Intensive Care, and Neonatal Intensive Care is by appointment only.
It is important to practice good hygiene while on hospital premises for both visitors and patients to stay safe from common infections.
If you have experienced diarrhoea, vomiting or flu symptoms in the past 48 hours, please stay away from the hospital until your symptoms are completely gone. Visitors should also wash their hands or use hand gel at the beginning of their visit, and as they leave the bedside.
If an infection is suspected or identified, sometimes a patient will be cared for in isolation. There are special precautions to be taken when visiting an isolated patient. Please talk to staff if you have any questions.
South Canterbury District Health Board is a smoke-free environment and workplace. This means smoking is not allowed in any building or surrounding grounds. Help, advice and nicotine replacement therapy is available if you experience difficulties regarding smoking — just ask ward staff.
Cellphones and electronic devices like PDAs can interfere with medical equipment. Please do not use these items within one metre of medical equipment or anywhere in ICU/CCU. If in doubt, check with your nurse. We ask that you comply with any staff request to turn off these items.
Public telephones are available at the hospital’s main entrance, in the stairwells on levels 2 and 3 of the Clinical Services Block, and opposite Surgical Ward reception on level 5. Each ward also has a telephone for patient use – please ask your nurse.
120-minute parking is available in the car park near the main hospital entrance, which has six disabled spaces, and along Queen Street. There are also two car park areas off Edward Street. Parking on High Street has no time limit. Car parks are unsupervised. Vehicles are left at the owner’s risk.
An ecumenical chaplain is on call to offer support, counsel, or sacramental ministry. Your personal beliefs, culture and privacy will always be respected. The hospital chaplain or your own religious or spiritual leader can be contacted at any time through your ward staff. The Hospital Chapel, located between the Clinical Services Block and the Gardens Block, is open 24 hours for anyone to use.
The hospital’s Kaumatua Liaison Officer can be contacted on 03 687 2153.
A Whanau/Family Room, located on level 3 near the hospital restaurant, is available for patients and their relatives.
The Hospital Restaurant is located on level 3. It is open weekdays 7am – 7pm; weekends and public holidays 8am – 2pm.
Vending machines are available in the hospital’s main entrance foyer. Café bar facilities are available in waiting areas throughout the hospital. If you are waiting for tests or a procedure, please check with a nurse before you eat or drink.