North West Regional Hospital
23 Brickport Road
Burnie 7320
Phone: (03) 6493 6000
Mail: PO Box 258, Burnie 7320
Email us
Hospital Visitor Restrictions
The safety of our patients, visitors and staff is very important and by restricting visitors we are taking measures that align with public health advice to prevent the potential spread and impact of COVID-19.
Unless you are seeking personal medical treatment or care, we ask that you do not visit our hospital, outpatient clinic or community centres if you:
- are unwell with symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19), such as a fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, shortness of breath, fever or loss of sense of taste or smell;
- have been advised to self-isolate following international or interstate travel, or
- are awaiting an COVID-19 test result.
Visitors must:
- Wear a mask at all times while on the premises. (This applies to all staff and visitors to the hospital or residential aged care facility over 12 years of age.)
- Visit between 2.30pm - 6pm with a maximum of one (1) visitor per patient, for a maximum of 1 hour for most areas.
- Complete the visitor screening tool on arrival
- Contact the Nursing Unit Manager (NUM) or Associate NUM, where present, for an exemption, for example ICU and Palliative Care.
To request an exemption on compassionate grounds, contact the facility you wish to visit and talk with the Nurse Unit Manager or Associate NUM.
Visitors allowed:
Area / Ward | Number of visitors |
|---|---|
| Acute Medical Unit | Two support persons permitted |
Department of Critical Care Medicine | Two visitors will be allowed at any one time |
Emergency Department | A single visitor is permitted in the following circumstances:
We understand that coming to an Emergency Department can be very stressful, but these restrictions are necessary to reduce crowding in the busy Emergency Department and waiting areas. |
Maternity Unit | An upper limit of two people to support mothers in the maternity unit (this limit of two includes the partner, if the partner is present). |
Medical C Ward | Visitors are not permitted unless by exemption |
| Medical and Surgical Wards | One visitor per patient, for a maximum of 1 hour per visit. |
| Paediatric Unit | Visitor numbers to the NWRH Paediatric Ward are restricted to two (2) visitors/support people (inclusive of parents). |
Palliative Care | An upper limit of four visitor for patients receiving end-of-life care, and the capacity for one visitor to stay overnight and for pets to visit where appropriate. |
Operating Theatre and Recovery Room | Visitors not routinely allowed. Parents may visit children post-surgery |
Outpatient clinics and community centres | Support person only |
Health Services in the North West
If you require emergency health care in the North West, please contact Triple Zero (000) or present to the emergency department at the North West Regional Hospital.
For all other healthcare needs contact your regular GP. To support non-emergency patients in the North West, additional GP services are being arranged.
More Information
See www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au for more information.
North West Regional Hospital
The North West Regional Hospital at Burnie is a modern 160 bed facility providing high quality health care and specialist services to North West Tasmania and King Island. It offers services in medical, surgical and allied health specialties through inpatient and outpatient departments. The hospital caters for the emergency resuscitation, surgery and intensive care of most trauma patients and other medical conditions. North West Regional Hospital is accredited by the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards.
As North West Regional Hospital is a secondary level service, transfer to comprehensive tertiary hospitals occurs for some injuries and illnesses.
The following outpatient services are provided by the North West Regional Hospital:
Service Eligibility
Admissions to hospital which are planned in advance need to be arranged in consultation with a General Practitioner or Specialist. More information about the admission process is provided to patients on referral.
Cost Information
When patients are admitted to hospital they are requested to bring their Medicare Card with them. They may choose to be admitted as a public patient or as a private patient.
Public patients are not charged for medical or hospital services; however, a doctor nominated by the hospital treats them. Public patients will need to meet charges relating to outpatient pharmaceuticals, telephone use and television hire.
Private patients are either insured by a health fund or pay the costs associated with their hospital treatment. Private patients are treated by the doctor of their choice.
Compensable patients have entitlement from the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Motor Accidents Insurance Board or Workers Compensation. Hospital fees are met by these organisations.
Interstate Visitors can expect the same entitlements and charges as Tasmanian residents.
Overseas Visitors - Australia has reciprocal health agreements with a small number of countries to provide care for overseas visitors from these countries free of charge. However, where these agreements are not in place, patients will be charged the full cost of their health care.