Visiting

Open visiting on all wards is between 10am and 8pm, 7 days a week unless stated otherwise on the wards page. Please check the wards page before visiting.

A-Z Wards

Visiting outside these times can be discussed with the nurse or midwife in charge. See our Visiting Policy.

Changing levels of cases of COVID-19 in Cornwall means that the we must review and restrict visiting at times. We know how hard this is for patients and relatives, and exceptional circumstances for visiting will be considered when necessary.

Changes to visiting arrangements in wards that have had an infectious outbreak

No visitors are permitted in any outbreak areas unless there are special circumstances that have been authorised by the nurse in charge. This policy is put in place to protect both patients and visitors. Once the outbreak is no longer a health concern then visiting arrangements will return to current RCHT visiting arrangements.

New visiting arrangements came into effect on 24 August 2022

All patients will be allowed a maximum of 2 visitors, reduced to 1 visitor or carer in admitting areas. Visits will be for a maximum of an hour per day. The two visitors can be different people each day but they will need to come together. All visits should be arranged in advance.

Visitors must not visit if they have:

• any of the symptoms associated with possible COVID-19
• feel unwell

All visitors must:

• use the hand hygiene facilities before and after visiting
• wear appropriate PPE. For example, wear a surgical facemask in areas where staff are required to wear a mask

Before visiting, visitors should use the public toilet facilities within the hospital as these will not be available on the ward.

Arrangements are specific to different areas but follow the same basic principles. Visiting outside the specified hours should be made with the ward manager. For example, to allow a relative to be present to break bad news or provide support if the patient has complex needs.

It may be necessary to amend visiting arrangements on any ward at short notice if there are cases of covid or any other infection outbreak. We will advise you when you call to arrangement your visit.

Exceptional circumstances

End of life care

Patients may have increased visiting with no restriction on the number of visitors or length of visit. This is at the discretion of the ward or unit manager. The patient does not need to have and end of life care plan (blue book) in place for these criteria to be applied.

Outpatients

Adults attending an outpatient appointment may be accompanied by 1 person.

Emergency department and minor injury units

Children and adults may be accompanied by 1 person. The department manager can approve more in exceptional circumstances.

Critical care

Face masks must be worn.

There will be a maximum of 2 nominated visitors who may visit for 1 hour per day. This can be increased to 4 visitors (who will ideally attend in pairs).

All patients will be reviewed daily and if increased visiting is permitted this will be recorded and communicated to the family.

Visits will be booked in advance and recorded in the visitor log and on the patient’s Carevue.

Staff will restrict the number of visitors to 1 set per 4 and 6 bed units. 2 sets of visitors will be permitted on the north side.

The red staff room or former visiting room should not be used.

Inpatient paediatric wards

Both parents and brothers and sisters may visit without restriction between 10am and 8pm. Grandparents may also visit with the parent’s consent. Other visitors can be agreed with the nurse in charge.

The number of visitors at the bedside should not exceed 2 people.

Gwithian

Both parents may accompany a child to an outpatient appointment.
Visitors will not be permitted if they have a cough, cold or gastrointestinal illness, or other infection which could be passed on to the children.

Neonatal unit

Parents may visit at any time.

A parent may be accompanied by another person of their choice, including the baby’s siblings, between 2pm and 7pm daily. The number of people at the bedside should not exceed 2 people.

Visitors will not be permitted if they have a cough, cold or gastrointestinal illness, or other infection that could be passed on to the babies.

Maternity

Children are not allowed to visit without the agreement of the clinical matron or on call manager (maternity).

Delivery suite and birth centre

• 2 partners may visit at any time.

Wheal Rose

• 1 partner at any time
• 1 other visitor at any time between 10am and 10pm.

Wheal Fortune

• 1 partner between 8am and 8pm
• 1 other visitor between 2pm and 8pm

• Wash or clean your hands before and after visiting the hospital and always after using the toilet.
• Use soap and water to wash your hands and make sure you wash and dry them thoroughly. There are handwash sinks at the entrance to all of our wards.
• There are also hand-gel stations at the entrances to our hospitals.
• Please don’t sit on your friend/family member’s bed, or on other patients’ beds.
• If you have symptoms such as flu, diarrhoea or vomiting or infections such as chicken pox, please do not visit because you could easily infect someone else.
• We don’t recommend that young children visit, please talk to the nurse in charge beforehand if you’d like them to.

If anything to do with infection prevention is worrying you, feel free to challenge staff, they won’t mind. You can also always speak to a senior member of staff. Our infection prevention team also provides a 24-hour advice and guidance service.

Find out more about how we work to prevent infection on our quality and safety standards page.

For some top tips on washing your hands well see this BBC video

The chairs are operated by a £1 coin and they do not accept cards; however there is a cashpoint and a shop in the foyer there – there is also a receptionist there who can usually let a wheelchair out for you.

These wheelchairs are push only and are not able to be self-operated. Porters are available to push patients to their appointments.