Alert Level 4 – Southern DHB information for the public

A move to Alert Level 4 for the whole of New Zealand at 11:59pm tonight means changes to the way Southern DHB Hospitals will be providing care over the next few days.

“Our priority is the safety of our patients and staff and we are putting well prepared plans in place,” says Southern DHB Chief Executive, Chris Fleming.

“Our healthcare facilities remain open and the public should seek medical care if they need it.”

More information will be provided tomorrow but some important information for the public is below.

Hospital appointments

A move to Alert level 4 means the majority of scheduled surgeries and outpatient appointments will be postponed for the next three days and will then be reassessed depending on any changes to Alert Levels. This includes home visits from community teams.  If you are a member of the public with a scheduled surgery or outpatient appointment in the next three days this is postponed unless you are contacted by the DHB.

Visitors

Under Alert Level 4 no visitors are allowed in our hospitals unless on compassionate grounds. Visitors who believe they should be able to visit on these grounds are asked to discuss this with the Charge Nurse Manager on the ward. 

Children in hospital

If a child is being assessed, treated or has been admitted to hospital, one parent may stay in hospital with them. 

COVID-19 vaccination programme

The COVID-19 vaccination programme is suspended for 48 hours. If you have an appointment in the next three days please do not attend. We will provide more information about rebooking in coming days.

COVID -19 Testing

If you have any COVID-19 symptoms please contact your GP or call 0800 VIRUS-19 (0800 847 8719). There is capacity for testing and more testing sites will be opened if required. Please do not attend the Emergency Department to seek a test.

Visited Auckland or the Coromandel since Thursday 12 August

Please check the Ministry of Health website for places of interest and follow advice if you have visited any of these sites.

Please follow Alert Level 4 advice

The move to Alert Level 4 gives us chance to stop any transmission of the virus.

We need your support to protect New Zealand and eliminate COVID-19. 

• Everyone must now stay home.
• From 11:59pm on Tuesday 17 August you can only leave home to shop for groceries, access necessary healthcare, get a COVID-19 test, exercise in your local area or go to work if you are working in an Alert Level 4 service, and you cannot work from home.
• Only make physical contact with those in your household bubble. 

Updates will be posted on the Southern Health website and Facebook page and the public are asked to keep checking these.