Visiting
All inpatients can have up to two visitors each day across all our hospital sites. Some wards / departments may still require appointments to be to booked in advance to manage the flow of visitors on the ward.
Visiting is at the discretion of the ward sister so please check in advance.
You may be asked whether you have any COVID-19 symptoms or if you have had COVID-19 in the last 10 days. If you have symptoms of COVID-19 or have tested positive for COVID-19 you may be offered a virtual visit.
In summary our visiting arrangements are as follows:
- Two visitors per inpatient at any one time should be allowed wherever possible.
- Visiting should be accommodated for at least one hour per day and ideally for longer.
- Visiting times can be flexible and at the discretion of the ward sister / manager.
- Patients may be accompanied in outpatients and the Emergency Department / Assessment Unit two people can attend with an individual if required, depending on space and capacity ad this can be managed with local discretion.
- Parents of children may visit together, wherever possible, including in non-paediatric settings,
where some children and young people may receive care. - Siblings may visit at the discretion of the ward sister, or at planned times.
- Separate visiting arrangements are also being put in place for maternity.
Masks
Staff and visitors no longer need to wear face masks in all non-clinical areas unless it is their personal preference to do so. The change is in line with national guidance about the mandated use of masks in healthcare settings.
However visitors may still be asked to continue to wear face masks in many ‘higher risk’ clinical areas to help ensure we protect our more vulnerable patients or in wards where patients may be infectious.
Speak to a member of staff if you are unsure if you need to wear a mask. Please ask staff to wear a mask if it makes you feel more comfortable during your visit.
It’s also really important we don’t undo all the hard work of the last two years and ask that visitors continue to wash or gel their hands when entering ward areas for example.
Our guidance on visiting and masks is under constant review should circumstances change.
