Visiting hours, rules and tips
Restricted visiting
While we are in the COVID-19 protection framework, the Te Whatu Ora Lakes services, including the Rotorua and Taupō Hospitals, will remain open and operate normally where possible, while managing public health risks.
Visiting hours: 11am–1pm and 4pm-7pm daily.
The primary purpose of our policy is to reduce risk of infection within our hospital and community hubs and to keep our most vulnerable people safe.
All visitors must still adhere to the following:
- Wear a face mask or covering, observe strict hand hygiene and physical distance
- NOT have any Covid-19 symptoms or be otherwise unwell
The visitor policy is as follows:
Only two people at a time can be in a patient’s bedspace or room – this can either be support people or visitors.
Children under-5 are not encouraged to visit.
Both support people and visitors are able to swap out and could be asked to wait in the Atrium area to support our physical distancing requirements.
A support person is not restricted to visiting hours. If required, please ensure visitors and support persons swap out to maintain physical distancing.
Support people and visitors may be asked to wear PPE.
A patient with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 may be able to have a pre-arranged support person organised by the Nurse/Midwife in charge and approved by the patient’s clinician. The identified support person must wear full PPE and will need to stay with the patient.
SCBU: No one other than parents/support person to enter the unit.
Theatre/Day Stay
In order to achieve physical distancing requirements only only one support person allowed for patients:
- Child under the age of 18
- Maternity
- Vulnerable person
- Planned Care if agreed with Scheduled Manager
- Emergency/Trauma as determined by the Clinical Team
No entry for any support person with known Covid-19 contact or symptoms.
Support person of patients with COVID are only permitted at discretion of unit clinical nurse manager or duty manager.
Emergency Department
Our ED remains open for urgent care, but there will be restricted access for support people or visitors.
Requests outside of the Visitor Policy will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. You will be requested to wear a mask during your time in the Emergency Department.
Guidelines when visiting our hospitals
Please help us to do this by following these guidelines.
Be considerate
Please show consideration and respect for all patients and the staff caring for them. This will help us to deliver the best patient care for everyone in a shared environment which caters to the needs of many.
Follow staff requests
From time to time staff may approach you and ask you to respond to a specific request in line with our Visiting Patients guideline.
Please co-operate with these requests, they are not meant to offend, but to ensure we can deliver the best care to patients.
Staff may ask you to leave the bedside for a short period to protect the privacy rights of other patients or to maintain safety and security.
No photos without permission
It is our intention to maintain patients’ rights to privacy at all times. Please be mindful when taking photos or video and do not take photos or videos of patients, visitors or staff without their permission.
No smoking or vaping on Te Whatu Ora Lakes grounds or in facilities
Absolutely no smoking or vaping anywhere on our grounds. Find out more about getting help to quit smoking.
Too many visitors?
The number of people welcomed at the bedside at any one time will be determined by staff in collaboration with the patient and family.
Where patients are in shared rooms, staff may also discuss the matter with other patient/s and their key support people.
To ensure wellbeing and safety, consideration will also be given to the physical limitations of the space.
You may find it easier to nominate a key support person or spokesperson for your group as this could ease communication.
Feeling unwell?
If you are feeling unwell, have an infection, have a runny nose, cold or flu-like illnesses or have or have been exposed to contagious illnesses, e.g. chicken pox or measles within the past three weeks, please do not come to the hospital or facility.
Hand hygiene
For the safety of our patients, we require visitors and key support people to clean their hands with soap and water or gel hand rub when entering and leaving the ward and patient’s room.
In certain circumstances visitors and key support people may be asked to comply with other requirements in the interests of patient safety.
Sharing visitor areas
In common areas, e.g. shared rooms, waiting areas and visitor lounges, please be mindful of other visitors’ and families’ need for space.
Waiting areas and visitor lounges are not designed for overnight stays.