Kowhaiwhai Purple Header

Visitor guidelines and tips

Home ›... Patients and visitors › For visitors, family and friends › Visitor guidelines and tips
Patients and visitors

Visitor guidelines and tips

Visitor guidelines for all Te Whatu Ora Waikato hospitals 

Tiaki te whānau

Supporting whānau/families if you have someone in hospital
Amohia ake te ora o te iwi, ka puta ki te wheiao.
To protect the wellbeing of our people is paramount.
Kiingi Tuuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero te tuawhitu

We know how important the support of whānau and friends is to everyone in our care, so here’s what you need to know about visiting.

Visiting hours are 11am-1.30pm and 4pm-8pm 

If you’re feeling unwell, please do not visit until you are feeling better to help protect patients and staff

  • It is recommended you wear a face mask when visiting. Staff may ask you to wear a face mask in particular situations or locations to protect people at higher risk
  • Use hand sanitiser provided before entering and after leaving the patient room and facility
  • Be considerate of other patients and staff caring for them at all times
  • Children must be supervised at all times
  • Do not eat or drink in patient areas
  • Respect that drugs, alcohol, gang regalia, and smoking/vaping are not permitted

A key support person is someone who has been identified by the patient to have at their side during their stay. They are welcome from 8am-8pm or longer if agreed with the patient and the ward.

Increased safety protocols may remain in place for specific locations within our hospitals.

Respecting patient spaces

Ko te matua o te whakaaro, ko te hunga tūroro e noho nei. Me whakaaro pērā tātou katoa. No reira, anei ētahi tikanga hei āwhina i te hunga tūroro, ki te peka mai koe/koutou ko te whānau.

Patient safety is always our priority.

Visitors must follow all instructions from the patient’s healthcare team and the security team.

Tips for keeping in touch

Who can help you stay in touch with your loved one in hospital?
Our staff understand it is a difficult time when you have someone you care about in hospital.

  • Our nurses, social workers, kaitiaki and chaplains are here to support you and your loved one and to be the connection if you are not able to visit
  • If your loved one is in isolation* the nurse caring for them will be the key contact for whānau/family
  • A virtual whānau hui with clinicians can be arranged if requested by the patient

*when a person is in quarantine because of infectious disease. 

Chaplains

Our chaplains provide pastoral and spiritual care for all who seek it, regardless of religious or cultural background. Ask ward staff to request a chaplain for you or phone 07 839 8899 and ask for the duty chaplain.  

Kaitiaki

Our kaitiaki are here to offer hauora advice and understanding about clinical cares, treatment, and cultural support for Māori and their whānau while they are in hospital. Ask ward staff to make a referral for kaitiaki support.

Virtual visits

We encourage patients and whānau to use technology where available to keep in touch.

Virtual visits are a great way to stay connected to your loved ones and support them during their stay in our facilities if you are unable to visit in person. 

There is free wifi within all Te Whatu Ora – Waikato hospitals. Patients can use their own devices (mobile phones/tablets/iPads) for video calls.

We want to protect our patients’ privacy, as well as their health. Please help us.

Hand holding a phone

Ask for permission to take photos

Only take photographs if the patient, or their legal guardian, says you can. Please don’t take pictures, videos or make audio recordings of our staff unless they say it is okay. You may not take photos or videos of other patients and visitors. This includes general shots of wards, waiting rooms, corridors, cafe areas etc where other people are. 

Think before you upload

Do not post photos or information about your friend or loved one’s condition on social media unless they are happy for it to be seen by many people, including the media. It is not fair if other family/whānau members or friends find out via social media.

Thank you for helping us to care for your family and friends.

11am – 1.30pm and 4pm-8pm daily.

Where are you visiting?

Some of our areas, critical care wards, and other facilities have other requirements about visiting and patient resting times. Please check in advance using the information in the Locations section.

While vaping can help smokers to stop smoking and carries less risk than smoking cigarettes, it is not risk free.

The exact nature of the liquid products used in vaping is often unknown and is currently unregulated in New Zealand. Vapour will often drift into a space that is shared with other people.

Vaping products are intended for smokers only and the best thing smokers can do for their health is to quit smoking for good.

Consensus statement

This consensus statement has been agreed by the Ministry of Health and the Health Promotion Agency with input from a New Zealand expert advisory group:

  • The best thing you can do for your health is to be smokefree and vape free.
  • Vaping is not for children or young people.
  • Vaping can help some people quit smoking.
  • Vaping is not harmless but is much less harmful than smoking.
  • Vaping is not for non-smokers.

For more information visit www.vapingfacts.health.nz

We will require you to leave the hospital or facility if:

  • your behaviour creates a risk or threat to patients, staff or other visitors. This includes verbal and physical abuse, threatening and violent behaviour including the use of obscene language or gestures.
  • you refuse to follow isolation precautions.
  • you are not respectful or considerate of others and/or you refuse to comply with requests from staff in line with the visiting patients guideline.
  • you fail to supervise children in your care.
  • you bring alcohol, drugs or weapons to the hospital or if you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol. 

 Thank you for your help.