Christchurch Hospital visiting hours have changed under Alert level 2.

 Canterbury District Health Board Incident Controller Dr Sue Nightingale says for most areas at Christchurch Hospital public visiting was previously from 11am – 1pm, then again from 3:00pm – 8:00pm. 

This week, visiting hours at Christchurch Hospital are between 3pm and 9pm until further notice. 

Dr Sue Nightingale says the busiest time in the hospital for clinicians is usually between 8am and 2:30pm when it’s a hive of activity and we want to keep that time visitor-free wherever possible. 

“Our current facilities are not spacious and having fewer people around at that time means staff have the space to observe physical distancing when not providing direct patient care.”

There is still one nominated person per patient for the duration of their stay.

Charge nurse managers can make exceptions on compassionate grounds.

 All visitors still need to be checked in at main entrances and contact details of all visitors are recorded on arrival.

 At Burwood Hospital all visitors need to be checked in at the main entrance on Burwood Road, and two nominated people can visit for the duration of a patient’s stay but they must visit at different times during the visiting hours of 11am – 7pm.

 There is no change to visiting at Christchurch Women’s Hospital under Alert Level 2 with women in labour allowed two support people for the duration of her labour and birth.