COVID -19: changes to our services

New Zealand is currently at alert level 2. Information about how we are working under alert level 2 can be found below.

Watch an NZSL translation of this announcement 

At COVID-19 Level 2, there are still restrictions on visiting our hospitals.

Restrictions on visiting, as with all current COVID-19-related measures, are to ensure the safety of patients and staff. Reducing the amount of people entering our hospitals helps us minimise avoidable contact, maintain physical distancing, and log all patients and visitors at the hospital sites.  

Outpatient clinic appointments

Patients need to attend their appointment alone unless a support person is essential. Reasons for needing a support person may include:

• Living with disabilities or special needs
• Appointment is  for a child or young person
• Being a single parent without child care 
• Frail older people
• English as a Second Language
  

Reducing people in the clinic spaces means we can maintain appropriate physical distancing during COVID-19 Alert 2 and have as many appointments as possible available to patients.

If you want to discuss an essential support person please phone either the:

CCDHB Booking Centre on 04 8060992 or CCDHB Call Centre on 04 3855999

Hospital Wards

We are now opening up access to Capital & Coast DHB and Hutt Valley DHB facilities to allow more visitors within restricted visiting hours.

Visiting hours at both Wellington and Kenepuru Hospitals are now 10am-1pm and 3pm-6.30pm.

Wellington Hospital

Inpatients at Wellington Hospital will be able to nominate 2 people who will be allowed to visit them while they are in hospital. The nominated visitors are allowed to visit one at a time. These nominated visitors names are recorded and they are checked in on arrival.

There are some areas where the restrictions are different. These include:

• Support people for women in labour - Each woman in labour and delivery is allowed 1 support person. After the birth of your baby, the inpatient visiting rules apply as above
• Visiting NICU- Open visiting hours for both parents. Parents will be able to visit at the same time if safe physical distancing can be maintained between visitors in NICU.   Read more about visiting NICU 
• Child Health - Only 1 parent/caregiver will be allowed to accompany a child for the duration of their admission. However, parents/caregivers can swap with each other during the time their child is in hospital.
• Patients with disabilities or special needs If staying in hospital you may have 1 nominated visitor in addition to your support person.

Kenepuru Hospital

• Inpatients at Kenepuru are allowed 1 nominated visitor. This is because of the high proportion of aged care patients at Kenepuru Community Hospital.z

Exceptions to the above will be considered on a case by case basis – for example allowing family to visit a dying patient - by the clinical team caring for the patient. The clinical team will work with the family, and the infectious diseases team as appropriate, to ensure the right balance between compassion and safety is maintained.

Where a visitor is allowed to access any DHB facility, they will be asked a set of questions to ensure they are well before they are allowed in.

When you're visiting

Visitors will be required to wear a visitor sticker at all times.

We’ll also be asking those visiting to follow alert level 2 precautions such as ensuring that hands are washed and physical distancing of 2 metres is maintained.

This is to keep our patients and our staff safe.  

We ask that you stay with your loved one in their room and avoid moving around our wards.  When you leave, please go straight to your nearest exit.

We are now opening up more hospital entrances to make it easier for you get to your destination more easily. View a map of entrances and exits to Wellington Hospital.

Staying connected

We encourage our patients to nominate a family member to help with communication with whānau.

Our staff can also help you and your loved one in hospital stay connected via phone or video conference. Read more about how we can help

We ask that all families and whānau help us to protect and care for all who are in our care in Capital & Coast DHB and Hutt Valley DHB health services.

Wairarapa, Hutt Valley, and Capital & Coast DHBs are working together to respond to COVID-19. During alert levels 4 and 3, urgent acute and some non-deferrable surgery was continuing. This included working with private providers to ensure that non-deferrable planned surgery – such as cancer or cardiothoracic surgery – could continue. During alert level 3, we slightly increased the level of planned surgery we undertook.

We are now planning for the move into alert level 2, and focused on a longer term plan for how our hospitals will operate under alert level 1 and beyond. This will include considering the implications on our services, determining  how we prioritise planned surgery, and increasing the level of planned surgery in the aim of returning to normal levels in the future. As part of our planning, we always ensure we have adequate staffing levels to continue providing safe health services.

It is too soon to go into detail about planning going forward as such plans may need to change as developments arise. As always decisions around surgery and appointments are based on advice from our clinicians, and the clinical needs of individual patients, and with patient safety and wellbeing as our highest priority.

If you have not heard from us, and are unsure whether to come to your scheduled appointment please phone (04) 806 0992 the day before your appointment to confirm.

Watch an NZSL translation of this announcement 

Community-based Assessment Centres have been set up across the Wellington Region.

These centres, also known as CBACs (Community Based Assessment Centres), are primarily to screen and assess people for testing, and test those who meet the criteria

No on-demand (or drop-in) COVID-19 testing is being carried out in the hospital. Please follow the instructions on your referral letter for directions on how to get to a testing facility.

If you are pregnant and expecting to give birth soon, you may be worried about what giving birth will be like while the country is in COVID-19 Level 2.

Maternity care is an essential service.  All your maternity care will still be provided. However,  protect you, your baby and your whānau, we’ve made some changes to how we work.

Find out more about giving birth at our hospitals during Level 2

Information for pregnant women and mums who are breastfeeding is available on the Ministry of Health website.

Watch an NZSL translation of this announcement 

We continue to provide abortion services for women in Wellington, Hutt and Kāpiti.

Abortion care is an essential part of health care for women and we will maintain services even where non-urgent or elective services are suspended.

However, to reduce the risk of infection entering the hospital we’re limiting the amount of people coming into the hospital. This means that no support people or children will be allowed to attend your appointment with you.

Read more about accessing abortion services

Watch an NZSL translation of this announcement 

COVID-19 is a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways.

In severe cases, it can cause pneumonia and severe infection of the lungs.

Going to your GP if you think you may have COVID-19

• If you need to see a Doctor or other medical professional you MUST phone first.
• Most consultations will happen over the phone (or by video call) to stop any risk of the disease spreading by person to person contact.
• If a face to face meeting is required, your doctor or other medical professional will organise this with you.
• If you cannot get through and are severely unwell, for example having trouble breathing, call 111 for an ambulance.

When should I seek medical advice?

If you are concerned about symptoms you are experiencing, please contact the dedicated COVID-19 Healthline (for free) on 0800 358 5453 or your doctor.

More information about accessing healthcare can be found on www.covid19.govt.nz

New Zealand citizens and residents returning home

Public health staff are working with border agencies to ensure New Zealand citizens and residents returning home are screened as they enter the country, and aware of the need to self-isolate and understand what that means.

Self-isolation means avoiding situations where you could infect other people. If you have to self-isolate please register register with Healthline online. If you have issues with the online registration, you can also register by calling 0800 358 5453.

Staff at airports and ports have information on hand that advises people what to look out for and what to do if they get symptoms.

Watch an NZSL translation of this announcement 

Normal charges will now apply for parking at Wellington Regional Hospital.  View more details on parking

Watch an NZSL translation of this announcement 

There are lots of things that you can do to keep yourself and those around you well.

Look after yourself If you or someone you know needs wellbeing support or advice, call or text 1737 to speak with a trained counsellor. This confidential service is free of charge and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There’s also useful information on the government’s website COVID19.govt.nz
Be kind and stay connected This is a stressful time for many. Remember to be kind.  While we need to maintain physical distance, it is important to stay connected.  Check in on the elderly or vulnerable by phone or video call. Connect them with specialist help (health or welfare for example) if it is needed. Make a difference by dropping off supplies to those who are home sick and ‘virtually’ check in with whānau, friends and neighbours.
Protect yourself and others Wash your hands with soap and water often (for at least 20 seconds). Then dry. Cough or sneeze into your elbow or by covering your mouth and nose with tissues. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects, such as doorknobs. Put used tissues in the bin or a bag immediately. Stay home if you feel unwell. Don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean. Put used tissues in the bin or a bag immediately. Stay home if you feel unwell.

More COVID-19 related health information is available on the Ministry of Health website www.health.govt.nz/covid-19

For information about the national response to COVID-19 and support from across government go to www.covid19.govt.nz