Hawke's Bay DHB Alert Level 2 Visitor Policy

7 Sep 2021, 08:52

Hawke’s Bay DHB has updated its Alert Level 2 visitor policy which will come into effect as of 11:59pm on Tuesday 7 September.

Hawke’s Bay Hospital’s Emergency Department will continue to have a strict no visitor or support person policy in place. 

Chief operating officer Chris Ash said the size of the ED waiting room made it impossible to maintain physical distancing from other patients if there were visitors and support people in such a small area.  Discretion would be applied for children and people who had special care needs or disabilities, he said. 

In other ward hospital areas, including the intensive care unit and rural facilities, it will be one visitor at a time.  More than one person will be able to visit during the day, but each person can only visit once a day. 

All visitors must sign-in using the COVID tracer app or provide their details on arrival.  Visitors must also wear a mask. Anyone who forgets a mask will be provided with one.

It remains vitally important no one who is unwell visits family or friends in hospital. Visiting hours between 1-8pm would be enforced, Mr Ash said. 

Hawke’s Bay Hospital’s café, ZACS, will be open to staff and the public, with physical distancing in place.

The hospital chapel will remain open, but with strict limits to the number of people allowed inside. 

For people coming to a DHB facility for an outpatient, radiology, or laboratory appointment, they should come alone, unless advised to bring someone with them.  Exceptions may be applied to children and/or anyone with a disability or needing assistance. 

Patients can still use DHB owned iPads to video call family members from a bedside stand, using the DHB’s free Wi-Fi, if they wish to virtually visit family who live out of the region or overseas, he said.

Visitors should follow social distancing rules and make sure their hands were thoroughly washed or cleaned with hand sanitiser before and after visiting.

Anyone unwell presenting to the Emergency Department should check locations of interest BEFORE coming to ED.  This helps speed up the triage process in ED, as the department will need to run through this checklist with you on arrival.

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