Central Otago Health Services Ltd Chief Executive Kathryn de Luc has provided an update on Dunstan Hospital services under Alert Level 3.

“Central Otago Health Services Ltd / Dunstan Hospital would like to take this opportunity as we move into Level 3 at 11.59pm on Tuesday to thank our community for adhering to the restrictions on services we have had to put in place over the past two weeks. 

“Your actions help keep our communities safe and enable our staff to be available to care for our most vulnerable people both in our Hospital and the Community.

“When we move to Level 3 we ask for people to continue to comply with the Governments guidelines including the mandatory wearing of masks when visiting COHSL facilities and other essential services, checking any locations of interest before you visit and using your QR code or signing in and keeping a record of where you have visited".

At Level 3 we will still have a need to continue with:

• Visitor Restrictions: These will remain similar to Level 4. The decision on individual visiting will be made at the discretion of Nurse in Charge on any given day.  Please contact the ward to ascertain the visiting for the person who is an inpatient and in your bubble.  We encourage our patients to remain in touch with family, whanau or significant others through options like Face Time, Skype, Messenger.

• Disruption of Services – outpatient services and radiology/x-ray services are resuming to a limited extent and based on clinical priority only. Patients will be kept up to date and informed as these services resume. 

• Some community visits will continue to be managed differently and patients will be informed of alternative arrangements over the coming weeks if they are not receiving face-to -face visits for care. 

• We remain with reduced waiting room capacity to adhere to the 2 metre social distancing requirements as this is vital to protect us all. 

• The strict screening process at the Front Door of Dunstan Hospital under Level 4 will continue to look after everyone’s safety. When you arrive please follow the instructions of our staff.

Please continue to seek updates from Covid19.govt.nz.

“We all thank you for your continued understanding and support.”