Visiting

Hospital visiting

All patients will be allowed one visit per day for a maximum of 1 hour, and no more than 2 visitors at a time, with the exception of admitting areas unless exceptional circumstances arise.

• Visitors should contact the clinical area the day before if possible to arrange the visit so that this is approved before coming to the hospital.
• Visitors must not visit if they have been:
• in contact with someone who has had confirmed COVID-19 in the last 10 days
• or experiencing any of the symptoms associated with possible COVID-19
• Visits will be for a maximum of 1 hour each day, at a time agreed by the ward team. There should be no more than 2 patients receiving visitors in a bay at the same time. We have allocated visiting times for each bed space.
• If the visitor is late for their allotted time, the visiting hour will still finish at the allocated time and not extended.
• Visitors must be directed to use the appropriate hand hygiene facilities before and after visiting.
• Appropriate PPE, specifically a surgical facemask, must be worn (face coverings are not acceptable).
• If visitors do not comply with infection, prevention, and control guidance they will be politely asked to leave the site.
• Prior to visiting visitors will be expected to use the public toilet facilities within the hospital as these will not be available on the ward.

Exceptional circumstances

Patients at end of life

The patient is not required to be on end of life care plan (blue book) to allow visiting.

There may be many situations where it is suspected the patient may be dying, and therefore they can have an end of life visiting plan.
The blue book should not be commenced solely to facilitate visiting, nor should visiting be restricted because the blue book is not in place.

• Patients who are at the end of their life may have increased visiting with no restriction on the number of visitors or length of time of visit.
• Only 2 visitors to be allowed at the bedside at a time if in a bay.

Additional exceptional circumstances

• Exceptional circumstances may arise where patients who require extra support with care, cognition etc. These cases must be assessed by a member of the senior leadership team and approved by one member of the executive triumvirate or out of hours executive on call.
• Compassionate visiting where it is important to the emotional wellbeing of the patient, including receiving difficult or complex news. These cases must be assessed by a member of the senior leadership team and approved by one member of the executive triumvirate or out of hours executive on call.

In all situations there should only be 2 patients receiving visitors in a bay or communal area at any one time.

• „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.