Hospital visiting guidelines updated 20 July 2022: Hospital visitors must wear a surgical/medical paper mask. Fabric face coverings are no longer acceptable. See our COVID-19 pages for detailed information about hospital visiting guidelines, COVID-19 tests and care in the community advice. See www.vaccinatecanterburywestcoast.nz for information about vaccinations.
We are at ORANGE according to the NZ COVID-19 Protection Framework
Last updated:
9th April 2022
Kia whakahaumaru te whānau, me ngā iwi katoa – this is to keep everybody safe:
By sticking to the rules above, you help keep our patients, staff, other visitors and yourself safe. We thank you in advance for your patience and understanding as our staff work hard to protect and care for some of the most vulnerable in our community.
Exceptions to the ‘one visitor’ policy
Visiting patients with COVID-19
You must NOT visit the hospital if you
Exceptions for people with disabilities
An exception will be made for people with disabilities who are in hospital or have to attend an outpatient appointment – where they need a support person to access health services. For example, a sign language interpreter, support person for someone with a learning disability, or someone to assist with mobility. The support person is in addition to the one permitted visitor.
Everyone visiting our facilities must wear a mask, no exceptions
While we appreciate that some people have legitimate reasons for being exempt from wearing a mask and may even have an official card to confirm this, people who cannot or will not wear a mask cannot visit someone in hospital or attend hospital, other than to access healthcare. This is another measure to minimise the risk to vulnerable patients.
Patients and visitors should also read the additional more detailed visiting guidelines for each specific hospital.
More COVID-19 information
Microbiology - Bacteriology
SWAB
Cutaneous swab
Skin swab
Wound swab
3 days
0797
Clean area to be swabbed with sterile saline to reduce commensal bacterial burden. Moisten swab with sterile saline prior to swabbing, this increases bacterial adherence.
**Requistion form must include relevant clinical details**
eg: Deep chronic wound, diabetic ulcer, foreign body, SSI
Swab in a zig zag fashion ensuring the whole swab is rolled over/in the area
Please see link for Swab Guide under Additional Information section
Ambient (8 - 24 degrees Celsius)
Culture for pathogenic bacteria and fungi.
Aerobic culture routinely performed.
Anaerobic culture only performed if clinical details are suggestive.
Acceptable sample - bacterial swab in transport media.
Varied sites possible from surgical sites or superficial sites.
$15.72 (Exclusive of GST)
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