Temporary Patient Visitor Restrictions

Southland Hospital introduces Temporary Patient Visitor Restrictions in Response to Increased Activity

Southland Hospital is putting temporary visitor restrictions in place from today due to increasing patient numbers for both influenza and the usual winter pressures on beds and staff resources.

Patients may now only have one support person/visitor per each visiting session. These restrictions are effective in all wards as well as the Emergency Department until further notice.

Southland District Health Board (DHB) Chief Operating Officer Lexie O’Shea said the restrictions are necessary to allow hospital staff to deal with the increased workload, to reduce the movement of people around the hospital and the opportunities for people to bring influenza-like-illness into the hospital.

“While we are coping with the increased workload it is necessary for us to put these measures in place so that we can get on with doing our job – which is to care for sick patients and protect them from any other viruses in the community.

“Our staff are being proactive in turning away extra visitors and any visitor they believe may be unwell.

“We are asking the public to please comply with these measures and not be offended if they are turned away.”

Posters are displayed around Southland Hospital about the visiting hours as well as posters asking visitors not to visit if they have a fever, cough, runny nose, sneezing, aches, diarrhoea or vomiting.

We are also reminding the public that people who think they have the flu should:

* Stay at home
* Wash their hands frequently with soap and dry them thoroughly
* Cover coughs and sneezes with tissues. Dispose of them in a rubbish bin or plastic bag
* Take fluids, rest, and anti-fever medication
* Contact your GP if they are getting worse – phone first

ENDS

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