Under the new protocol, the Registered Nurse in charge will consider each patient on their ward and confirm if-and-when visiting will be suitable. If visitors are welcomed onto the ward, a daily log will be completed and no more than two visitors are allowed in a bay at a time. If visitors are unable to see the patient, they will receive a daily update by telephone from an appropriate clinician.
Before you visit
Handwashing: When visiting someone in hospital, please clean your hands using soap and water. Sinks are available at all entrances to our hospitals and most wards, to enable you to do this. Where there is not a sink, you should be able to use alcohol hand rub instead.
Illnesses: If you have a cough, cold, diarrhoea, vomiting or a temperature, you could have an infection and may risk passing this on to our patients. Please do not visit the hospital if you have these symptoms.
Who can have visitors?
Patients at End of Life: Will be allowed open visiting. This means that a maximum of two visitors can stay with the patient.
Patients with a Learning Disability: Will be assessed individually, depending on their needs. Visiting will then be discussed with the family.
Patients with Dementia: Will be assessed individually, depending on their needs. Visiting will then be discussed with the family.
Long stay patients: Some patients have been apart from their family for a long time and have had little-to-no communication with them. In these instances, a visiting time could be allocated for up to one hour, with the understanding that it just one visitor.
Maternity Services: We are closely following national guidance for maternity, which currently advises that all visiting within the department be suspended. The only exception to this is that of the birthing partner when the woman is in labour.
Who cannot have visitors?
A󠆰ll other inpatients: Unfortunately, due to infection control and social distancing reasons, visiting for all other patients remains suspended at this time. We trust you understand why we need to keep this in place.