Visitors to Hospital asked for their co-operation

10 July, 2009

Visitors to Hawke’s Bay Hospital asked for their co-operation

From Monday (July 13) Hawke’s Bay Hospital Soldiers’ Memorial will be strictly enforcing visiting hours from 1pm to 8pm daily and asking visitors to limit the number of visitors per patient to two.

Acting chief executive Warrick Frater said the DHB was asking the public for their co-operation while influenza like illnesses, including Novel Influenza A H1N1 Swine Flu, were circulating in the community

The DHB needed to protect staff and patients from visitors who were coming to the hospital, to visit, with flu-like illnesses.

Visitors will also be asked to use hand sanitiser on entry to the hospital and when they leave to help limit the spread of infection.

“We cannot continue to make exceptions for visitors coming to visit patients’ at times outside visiting hours, and anyone with flu like illness who was visiting will be asked to leave.

“I hope the public understands that this is a very difficult time for hospital staff, and everyone is doing their best when resources are severely stretched, - all we ask is for visitors to limit the number of visitors, stick to visiting hours and to stay away if they are sick,” Mr Frater said

The Canning Road entrance and Emergency Department access to the rest of the hospital would also be closed off from Monday and all visitors would need to use he main entrance to gain access to hospital wards.

Mr Frater said if the situation worsened, the hospital could restrict visiting further.

ENDS

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