Wear A Mask To Keep Hospital Patients Safe

Please keep wearing a mask when you’re visiting
hospitals and other healthcare facilities.

That’s
the message from Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand Hauora
a Toi Bay of Plenty as respiratory diseases continue to
place pressure on health resources.

The message comes
as declining rates of COVID-19 seem to be creating
complacency in our community, with many people failing to
wear masks in public settings such as shops and
supermarkets, as well as our district’s
hospitals.

Chief Operating Officer Bronwyn Anstis says
some people are wearing a mask to the hospital entrance,
then taking it off after entering.

This risks
infecting staff and patients with the flu or
COVID-19.

“There are still a lot of respiratory
diseases in our community, and some people are carrying the
flu or COVID-19 without showing any symptoms,” says
Bronwyn.

“Therefore, it’s still really important
for people to keep wearing masks in public settings –
especially in hospitals and other health care facilities
where there are a lot of vulnerable staff and
patients.”

Tauranga Hospital and Whakatāne Hospital
are both asking visitors to:

• wear a properly
  fitted mask – and keep it on at all times while in the
  hospital
• wash/sanitise their hands
  regularly
• keep their distance from other people as
  much as possible.

People who are sick with an
infection that can be transmitted to others are also being
asked to avoid visiting friends and whānau in
hospital.

“Our highest priority is ensuring the
safety of our patients and staff,” says
Bronwyn.

“Please be kind to our staff if they ask
you to wear a mask – they’re doing their best to keep
everyone safe.”

Respiratory diseases like COVID-19,
the flu and RSV can place a lot of pressure on hospitals –
partly because large numbers of patients need care, and
partly because staff catch the diseases and cannot
work.

Some hospital departments have had more than 10%
of their staff on sick leave while caring for large numbers
of patients.

These situations have to be managed
through measures such as redeploying staff and deferring
planned care surgeries.

Te Whatu Ora – Health New
Zealand Hauora a Toi Bay of Plenty is prioritising resources
to ensure that health care is available to those people who
need it most.

The Ministry of Health has published
guidelines to help people stay
well during the cooler
months.

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