Carers and visitors information

If you are a carer or visitor of one of our patients, you may find the information below useful.

What’s on this page:

This is Me

When someone you care about comes into hospital, you know them best. This Is Me is a simple, person‑centred document that helps our staff understand what truly matters to your relative, friend or loved one — especially if they have difficulty communicating their needs.

By sharing small but important details, you can help us provide care that feels familiar, reassuring and respectful.

What is This Is Me?

This Is Me is a short document that captures key information about the person you care for, such as:

  • What helps them feel calm or safe
  • How they communicate
  • Their likes, interests and routines
  • Things that may cause distress and what helps in those moments

This information helps our teams get to know the person behind the patient and provide more personalised and compassionate care.

The document stays with the patient during their hospital stay and can also be used in other care settings if needed.

Who is This Is Me for?

This Is Me is designed for anyone who may find it difficult to express their needs, including people with:

  • Limited speech or communication difficulties
  • Learning disabilities
  • Anxiety or distress
  • Delirium or cognitive impairment
  • Dementia

It can be helpful for anyone who would benefit from sharing more personal information to support their care.

How carers and loved ones can help

Where possible, we encourage patients to complete the document themselves.
However, carers, family members, friends or anyone who knows the person well are warmly invited to help complete it if the patient is unable to do so.

You don’t need to write a lot — often it’s the small, personal details that make a big difference, such as favourite music, ways to give reassurance, or routines that provide comfort.

Download the document

You can ask a member of ward staff for a copy of the booklet, or download and print it yourself here:

WPR43642 ThisIsMe December 2025

Concessionary parking

Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals (DBTH) is committed to making hospital car parking free for those who need it most.

Across our sites, free parking is available to several groups of patients and visitors, including those who attend hospital frequently for appointments.

Free parking is provided for:

Blue Badge holders
Disabled patients and visitors who hold a valid Blue Badge are entitled to free parking for the duration of their visit to the hospital.

Patients attending frequent outpatient appointments
Free parking is available for patients who attend outpatient appointments at least three times within a 30-day period, for an overall period of at least three months.

Visitors supporting patients receiving end-of-life care
Free parking is available for frequent visitors supporting patients who are receiving end-of-life care.

Carers supporting a patient during a hospital admission
Free parking is available for those attending hospital to support a patient as a carer during their admission.

Parents or guardians of children staying overnight in hospital
Parents or guardians of a child or young person under 18 years of age who is admitted overnight can receive free parking between 7.30pm and 8.00am while visiting their child.

Carer involvement & John’s Campaign

At Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals (DBTH), we recognise the vital role of unpaid carers and aim to involve and support them at every stage of a patient’s care.

We are also proud to support John’s Campaign, which upholds the right for people living with dementia to be supported by their carers during hospital stays. At DBTH we recognise the importance of all carers, not just those supporting someone with dementia.

Carers are partners in care – not just visitors. Carers can be of any age, and we recognise the importance of involving them in decisions and discussions throughout a patient’s care. This can include outpatient appointments, day case procedures or treatments, pre-admission assessments, and both planned and emergency inpatient stays.

We also recognise that some patients are carers themselves. When someone who normally provides care is admitted to hospital, there may be a need to consider arrangements for the person they support at home.

What is John’s Campaign?

John’s Campaign was established in memory of Dr John Gerrard, who deteriorated rapidly after being separated from his family during a hospital stay.

People living with dementia, and those who rely on having a carer with them due to cognitive or communication difficulties, can experience distress and deterioration during hospital admissions if separated from the person who supports them.

John’s Campaign reminds us that carers are not simply visitors – they are essential partners in care.

How carers can support person-centred care

Carers can play an invaluable role in supporting patients during their care and treatment. For example, carers may:

  • Know the person best and be able to share important information about their medical history, preferences, routines and needs.

  • Provide reassurance and familiarity, helping to reduce anxiety during hospital visits or admissions.

  • Help identify signs of pain, confusion or distress that the person may find difficult to express.

  • Help share information that enables healthcare teams to better understand what matters most to the patient.

Carers may also be asked to help provide information about a person’s preferences, routines and communication needs to support personalised care.

Supporting carers during hospital visits

We aim to create an environment where carers feel welcomed, valued and involved in the care of the person they support.

Where appropriate, carers may be involved in discussions about care and treatment, as well as planning for discharge from hospital. In some situations, arrangements can be made to help carers remain involved in supporting the person they care for.

We understand that caring for someone can be physically and emotionally demanding, and we are committed to supporting carers wherever possible.

Supporting carer involvement is not just about policy – it is about creating a culture where carers feel welcomed, respected and empowered as partners in care.

Visitor’s Charter

Visiting our wards

At Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals (DBTH), we operate open visiting across our wards and departments, including day areas. This approach recognises that flexible visiting arrangements can benefit patients by allowing family members, carers and loved ones to visit at times that work best for them.

While visiting is flexible, it is important to maintain a balance that allows patients time for meals, rest and recovery, which are essential parts of healing.

Things to be aware of when visiting

Some wards may have a quiet or rest period during the day. During these times, visitors are asked to keep noise to a minimum so patients can rest.

Some patients may also be too unwell to receive many visitors or may need shorter visits. In these situations, the ward team may discuss individual visiting arrangements with families and carers.

During care or clinical discussions

During your visit, doctors or nurses may need to carry out examinations, procedures or private discussions with the patient. When this happens, visitors may be asked to step outside the ward for a short time. This helps protect the patient’s privacy, dignity and confidentiality.

Sometimes, visitors may be invited to stay—particularly if they are a carer or next of kin and the patient would like them involved in discussions about their care.

Ward rounds

If you are visiting during a ward round, there may be an opportunity for the clinical team to provide a brief update on the patient’s progress (with the patient’s consent). As doctors usually need to see many patients, more detailed discussions may sometimes be arranged separately.

Respecting the privacy of other patients

At times, visitors may be asked to step outside temporarily if another patient nearby is receiving confidential or sensitive information. We ask all visitors to help us maintain the privacy and dignity of everyone on the ward.

Visiting later in the evening

Open visiting allows flexibility, but late-night visiting may not always be suitable for every patient or ward environment. Patients need time to rest overnight, and visitors are asked to help keep noise to a minimum if visiting later in the evening.

Looking after yourself as a visitor

We understand that supporting a loved one in hospital can be emotionally and physically demanding. Visitors are encouraged to take breaks, rest and look after their own wellbeing while supporting someone during their hospital stay.

Herbert Protocol

The Herbert Protocol is a simple and effective way to help support people living with dementia or other conditions that may cause them to become lost or confused.

It involves completing a form with important information about a person, which can be quickly shared with the police if they go missing. This helps emergency services locate them as quickly and safely as possible.

How does it work?

A family member, carer or the individual themselves fills in a form that includes key details such as:

  • Name, address and a recent photograph
  • Medical conditions and medication
  • Places they like to visit
  • Daily routines and habits
  • Emergency contact details

This information is kept safe and up to date.

  • In South Yorkshire, families are encouraged to send the completed form to the police in advance.
  • In Nottinghamshire, the form should be kept safe and only shared with the police if the person goes missing.

Some people also choose to share the form with trusted friends, family members or neighbours.

ID tags and bracelets

Many people who use the Herbert Protocol also wear a small ID tag or bracelet (see picture below).

If they are found, emergency services can use this to access securely stored information and help return them home quickly, often without needing to bring them to hospital.

Why is it important?

The Herbert Protocol can:

  • Help find someone more quickly if they go missing
  • Reduce stress and worry for families and carers
  • Support emergency services with vital information
  • Help people return home safely, sometimes without needing hospital care

Download the forms

You can download the Herbert Protocol form for your area below:

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