The safety and wellbeing of Hospice Whanganui’s patients, families, staff and volunteers is our first priority.
UPDATED: Saturday March 28th, 5pm
Hello everyone, just an update on where we’re at. We hope you and all in your bubble are safe and well and stay that way. 🙂
Our Hospice Inpatient Unit has now closed for the duration of the lockdown, but our community nursing service and 24-hour support and advice line continue to operate. If you are in need of advice please don’t hesitate to call us on (06) 349-0080.
Our community nursing team will have face-to-face visits where this is absolutely essential and will wear Personal Protective Equipment if this is the case. All other contact will be by phone or via technology.
There are now three confirmed cases of Coronavirus in the Wanganui region (advised on the WDHB website today), all in the Ruapehu District and all connected to overseas travel. All three are in isolation. It is more important than ever to stay safe and follow the guidelines set down by the Ministry of Health. They have a dedicated site if you have any questions or need information about anything to do with the COVID-19 situation. Go to www.COVID19.govt.nz
We are all in this together and we will get through it. Be kind, stay home and save lives.
UPDATED: Wednesday March 25th, 8pm
A message from our Chief Executive Officer:
From 11:59pm tonight until Friday, visitors to the Inpatient Unit will be strictly limited, in line with the lockdown requirements outlined by Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern. We are committed to adhering to the restrictions imposed by government during the COVID-19 crisis.
From this Friday the Hospice Whanganui Inpatient Unit will close – this is an unprecedented and very difficult move for us at Hospice. We have an outstanding team who have worked tirelessly for the last 12 days ensuring that everyone involved – patients, families, staff and volunteers – are safe during this time.
Keep calm, keep safe and please don’t put yourselves or anyone else at risk. Look after yourselves, your family and friends and together we will see our way through this.
Kia kaha.
Karen Anderson.
UPDATED: Monday March 23rd, 5:15pm
In line with today’s announcement from the Prime Minister that we are moving to Alert stage 3, we have implemented the following:
- Effective immediately, all Hospice shops have closed until further notice and all volunteer roles have been suspended during this time.
- Visiting hours will be between 8:30am and 4:30pm only. This will be updated as we move into Alert stage 4.
UPDATED: Sunday March 22nd, 5:30pm
With regard to visiting… Dr Ashley Bloomfied, Director General of Health gave a strongly worded message to those who are over 70 years of age.
“We know many of you are fit and healthy and living active lives, but the older we are the less able our immune systems are to fight off this virus… we have seen from overseas that older people are at more risk of serious complications so we are strongly encouraging you – in fact urging you – to be aware of the need to stay at home and not to have contact with others.”
At Hospice Whanganui we support this advice and ask that if you are in this age group (over 70), that you stay home. If you are considering visiting Hospice, please call us first to discuss this on (06) 349-0080.
UPDATE: Thursday March 19th, 3pm.
Effective immediately, visiting hours to the Hospice Whanganui Inpatient Unit have been restricted. During this time of national effort to contain COVID-19, visiting hours will be between 8:30am and 7pm. All visitors will be asked screening questions, will need to sign the visitor register and use hand sanitisers before admission to the unit.
After hours and during the weekend please come to the foyer, ring the door bell and take a seat. Nursing staff will answer the door as soon as they can, and go through the screening process with you. We respectfully ask for your patience at this time – we acknowledge that the ever-evolving nature of the COVID-19 situation can be challenging for everyone.
If you have any concerns or queries around visiting, please give us a call at Hospice (06 349-0080, 24/7) and the clinical staff will be able to talk you through how best to proceed. Thank you everyone.
For COVID-19 health advice and information, contact the Healthline team (for free) on 0800 358 5453.
Please also check earlier posts (below) about Hospice Whanganui’s response to the COVID-19 situation.
UPDATE: Wednesday 18th March, 11.27am
When you arrive at Hospice reception please speak with the receptionist. You will be asked some questions to screen you for COVID-19 before you enter the unit.
After hours and weekends, please ring the bell and nursing staff will attend to you for screening before you enter the unit.
Please sign the visitor book and use the hand sanitiser.
Please note that if the situation around COVID-19 worsens, we may have to restrict visiting times. Updates will be advised here and you can also call Hospice on 06 349-0080 for information about that.
We apologise if you are not able to enter the Hospice inpatient unit and will do our best to find other ways for you to communicate with staff and patients. In the interest of protecting our patients, families, staff and volunteers we may need to ask you to leave. If you have any questions please phone us on 06 349 0080 any time of the day or night.
Hospice Whanganui has an active pandemic plan which is constantly updated and those updates will be here as they come to hand.
For COVID-19 health advice and information, contact the Healthline team (for free) on 0800 358 5453.