Monday 13 September 2021

Limited visiting hours @ Rotorua and Taupo Hospitals

Lakes DHB is restricting visitor numbers in its hospitals to manage contact between individuals and to meet social distancing requirements. 

We need to be able to track everyone entering the hospital so that if there are positive cases, we can quickly identify who is at risk and put in place measures to stop the spread of Covid-19.

Chief Operating Officer for Lakes DHB Alan Wilson says the arrangements are designed to help ensure that we have measures in place that will protect patients, staff, visitors, families and the wider community.

All visitors coming into Rotorua or Taupo Hospital are required to answer some health questions as part of the screening process, to sign in using the COVID tracer app or complete the visitors register on entry to the hospital, and to wear a visitor sticker. They are also required to wear a mask.

The reduced visiting hours are 11am – 1pm and 4pm – 7pm each day. Key features of the visitor restrictions are:

• Maximum of one visitor per patient for each designated visiting period
• One continuous support person with a birthing woman and a second as a visitor during visiting hours
• SCBU/Mothercraft babies – a support person in hospital and a second as a visitor
• Patients under 16 years – a support person in hospital and a second as a visitor
• Two visitors with a patient receiving end-of-life care
• Support Person permitted for certain theatre patients, i.e. Children – under 18 years; Maternity; Vulnerable persons i.e. special needs; Planned Care – discretionary; Emergency/Trauma – as determined by the clinical team
• Outpatients - to ensure social distancing can be achieved please only bring one support person where essential

The restrictions mean that only one person may visit at a time in the first visiting hours slot of 11am-1pm, and later in the day from 4-7pm. All visitors are reminded they need to follow staff instructions while visiting and to promptly leave the hospital at the end of the visiting hours.

Alan Wilson says all people planning on coming to hospital for an appointment or to visit should have no symptoms such as fever or cough, should observe hand hygiene and wear appropriate PPE as directed by staff. If they are unwell and unable to attend an outpatient appointment or procedure they need to ring in advance and change their appointment.

Ends
For more information contact:
Shan Tapsell Communications Advisor Ph (07) 349 7944 or mobile 027 242 3652
or Alison King, Digital Communications Advisor Ph (07) 3497822 or mobile 021 034 6021

Follow our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/LakesDistrictHealthBoard for COVID-19 updates.