Alert Level 4: Healthcare services and hospital visitor restrictions
VISITOR RESTRICTIONS - ALERT LEVEL 4
Under COVID-19 Alert Level 4 the South Canterbury DHB will be adopting a no-visitor policy for the SCDHB facilities (Timaru Hospital and Kensington) to protect our vulnerable patients.
The following exceptions apply:
- ONE named parent/legal guardian who has been screened support in paediatrics and neo-natal services
- Maternity services: One named birthing partner from their bubble for duration of birth, and two hours after
Masks or face coverings must be worn at all times at the South Canterbury DHB sites and will be provided if people don’t have them. Hand sanitiser stations are visible and must also be used.
From 11.59pm on Tuesday 17 August 2021 until further notice the South Canterbury DHB are in COVID-19 Visitor Policy Red. The COVID-19 Visitors Policy can be found at:
www.scdhb.health.nz/info-for-you/timaru-hospital/visitors
PLANNED SURGERIES /OUTPATIENT APPOINTMENTS
Unless otherwise advised all planned surgeries and/or outpatient appointments are cancelled. The SCDHB will contact patients directly to advise if their planned surgeries and/or outpatient appointments are going ahead. Please note our acute and trauma services will continue as normal.
EMERGENCY DENTIST
In COVID-19 Alert Level 4, all non-emergency treatment is postponed. Please DO NOT show up at a dental practice or the hospital.
We are doing our best to support our patients despite the limitations placed on our services. During this lock down, if you require emergency dental treatment, the on call dentist is as follows:
- Monday: Silver Birches, 03 688 9463
- Tuesday: Tony Page, 03 688 6463
- Wednesday: Timaru Dental Care, 03 684 3451
- Thursday: Stafford Dental Centre, 03 688 0033
- Friday: Four Peaks Dental, 021 022 63175.
Patients requesting emergency care should undergo a telephone assessment to determine the need for a “face-to-face” appointment.
Golden rules for Alert Level 4
- At Alert Level 4, there are important rules we all need to follow to keep ourselves and each other safe
- Stay within your immediate household bubble. Extended bubbles are allowed where there is shared care and custody arrangements or if you live alone. Once you go into a bubble you must stay in it and others cannot join
- Keep 2m apart from other people at all times while in public. This includes when undertaking physical exercise in your neighbourhood, visiting the supermarket or pharmacy, urgent medical care or getting a test.
- If you undertake activities outside, please wear a mask when you leave the house
- if you feel unwell you must immediately self-isolate from others in your bubble and get a test
- See the unite against COVID-19 website for further information on what Alert Level 4 means for you: https://covid19.govt.nz/alert-levels-and.../alert-level-4/.
How to protect yourself and others
These simple steps can slow the spread of the virus and help protect you, your whānau, and your community from COVID-19.
- If you have cold, flu or COVID-19 symptoms, stay home and call your doctor or Healthline for free on 0800 358 5453.
- Regularly wash and thoroughly dry your hands
- Sneeze and cough into your elbow
- Keep a 2 metre distance from people you do not know
- Clean or disinfect shared surfaces often
- Wear a face covering
- Keep track of where you have been with the NZ COVID Tracer app.
Media contact:
Karen Berry
Communications Manager
South Canterbury District Health Board
P: 03 687 2395 | M: 021 139 7442
kberry@scdhb.health.nz