Most hospital and specialist appointments are still happening during Level 2, but there may be some changes and different rules to protect everyone from COVID-19.
- Free car parking at hospitals as finished under level 2
- Most appointments will not happen face to face
- Your appointment might be a phone conversation or a video call using a phone or computer
The hospital staff will contact you and tell you:
- If you need to come to the hospital for your appointment
- If your appointment will be a phone or video call instead and how to call, or
- If your appointment is cancelled and you need to book a different time
If the hospital staff do tell you to come to the hospital for your appointment, there are some extra rules during Alert Level 2.
- You must stay 2 metres away from other people while you are waiting and when you are inside. However, your doctor, nurse or specialist may need to be closer to you and that is ok.
- You can bring ONE support worker or interpreter with you if you need assistance to move around, communicate or understand what is happening. Please let the hospital know if you will bring a support worker, or if you need us to book an interpreter.
Before you enter the hospital you will be asked:
- To sanitise or wash your hands
- To wear a mask. The mask is to protect you from getting Covid-19, so it is good to wear it if you can
- You will need a medical mask.
- If you don’t have a medical mask, the hospital staff will give you a mask
- To sign in using your Covid Tracer App or to write your contact information on paper
Some people who have a disability or Health condition can’t wear a mask. If you can’t wear a mask, you can get an exemption card. An exemption card means you don’t have to wear a mask.You can show the exemption card to the hospital staff.
To get an exemption card, contact the Disabled Person’s Assmbly NZ on 04 801 9100.You can use the Relay System if you are deaf or hard of hearing.You can also email the Disabled Person’s Assembly on: info@dpa.org.nz
The staff at the door will also ask you several questions about:
- How you are feeling, and if you feel sick
- If you have been to any of the COVID-19 locations of interest
- If you have had a COVID-19 test and are waiting for the result
- Where you are going in the hospital, and if you have an appointment
They will tell you where to go for your appointment. If you are feeling sick or unwell, the staff might not let you in.This is because they don’t want other sick people and patients to get sicker.
All staff will be wearing masks. Some may also be wearing a face shield, gloves, goggles and/or gowns.This is to protect them from getting COVID-19. If you cannot understand what people are saying when they are wearing a mask, please let the staff know so that we can communicate with you in another way
Visitors to the Hospital
- Only two people can visit a friend or family member in a hospital under Level 2
- The two people have to be from the same bubble
- In some wards like the Emergency Department, only one person can visit a family member or friend.
- People under 16 years of age cannot visit a family member or friend in hospital. If a person under 16 wants to visit, they need to get permission first
- You must visit during visiting hours
