Bay of Islands Hospital's new facility is the Red Zone, with designated isolation rooms within the new emergency department. If numbers of presentations increase, the old part of the hospital will be used to continue providing emergency care to patients who present without Covid-19 symptoms.
Kaitaia Hospital's second floor, currently the day surgery and theatre department, has been designated as the inpatient Red Zone there.
Hauora Hokianga's Rāwene Hospital is asking anyone who is worried or thinks they need care to phone (09) 405-7709) before arriving, so staff can assess the care needed and make arrangements to see them appropriately. The community-based testing centre, accessed via Honey St, is open from 10am to 2pm Monday to Friday.
Meanwhile urgent outpatient care across the region is now provided via telephone and video links, freeing up the facility space for other uses and keeping Northlanders safe in their bubbles.
In line with the government's directive, the DHB has also adopted a no visitor policy, with only a few exceptions. Only one well person who is supporting a terminally ill patient through end of life care, a child or a pregnant woman, is permitted to visit, although exceptions may be made on essential and compassionate grounds. A lead clinician will make the decision, and the visitor will undergo screening before they enter to ensure they are well, have clean hands, and are using appropriate personal protective equipment.
The DHB and Māori health providers have also now moved to a seven-day community-based testing schedule, with all locations offering weekend testing. For more information about the community-based testing centres, go to the Northland DHB website.