PHOTO/FILE
Wairarapa lifted its visitor restrictions as of last night.
Each patient is now allowed one visitor at a time once a day. For the past two months, no visitors were allowed in the hospital apart from exceptional circumstances.
Te Whatu Ora-Wairarapa interim district manager Dale Oliff said they decided to change the visitor status due to a combination of covid prevalence in the wide community, covid inpatient numbers and overall hospital capacity.
“We have been continually monitoring key factors over the last few months.”
Visiting hours are from 2pm to 8pm. One visitor per patient is the rule – unless a prior arrangement is made with the authorised charge nurse manager or duty nurse manager.
“All visitors must wear a mask and sanitise their hands.
Additional requirements may apply to patients in isolation, including covid positive patients.
The visitor arrangements for Kaitiaki or partner in care would continue in addition to regular visitors. When asked how the hospital staff managed loneliness from lack of visitors Oliff said the staff encouraged patients to use digital platforms.
“We are encouraging patients and whanau who would like to connect more, to work with charge nurse managers to use virtual technology on digital platforms.
We continue to have chaplaincy services available to those who would like to discuss any matters.”
The hospital has been at red alert level since June 27, after an influx of patients in hospital with covid-19 and other winter illnesses. The hospital was over 95 per cent adult occupancy at the time.
