Following feedback from patients, carers, visitors and staff, we have extended our visiting hours to make it easier for you to visit someone in hospital whilst they are receiving care.
Visiting times
Visiting times on most adult inpatient wards, including the assessment suite, are now 10am to 8pm every day.
There is a maximum of 2 visitors per patient at any one time.
We have made these changes to provide a more consistent approach across our hospitals. This will allow you to attend at times that better fit around work, caring responsibilities and travel.
Areas with different visiting arrangements
Some services have different visiting arrangements.
Children’s services
- 8am – 8pm daily
- At least 1 parent or carer can stay with children under 16.
Maternity services (antenatal, postnatal and transitional care wards)
- 1 adult is allowed in the early morning (6 – 8am) and evening (8 – 10pm)
- 8am – 8pm up to 2 adults, a birthing partner, and siblings can visit
- The Newcastle Birthing Centre offers open visiting.
Neonatal services
- Parents have 24-hour access
- Up to 3 visitors per cot (a parent must be present).
Emergency department
- Open visiting (usually 1 visitor depending on capacity) and you may be asked to sit in waiting area if the clinical assessment areas are busy.
Day case patients
- 1 visitor can attend with the patient to provide support.
Outpatients
- 2 visitors can attend with the patient to provide support.
Flexible visiting
We understand that some patients need additional support. Flexible visiting can be arranged, for example for carers or in special circumstances. Please speak to the ward team.
This may include:
- When patients are receiving palliative or end-of-life care
- To provide support at mealtimes to help encourage the patient to eat
- To help with washing and dressing
- As a reasonable adjustment for patients on an individual basis
- To support the involvement of carers
- For young people transitioning to adult services
- When visitors are under the age of 16
- For patients requiring spiritual/religious support, in partnership with the chaplaincy team
What to expect when you visit
To support safe and effective care, you may be asked to step out to maintain privacy, dignity or during treatment.
We support protected mealtimes and you may be asked to leave unless supporting a patient to eat.
Children visiting should be agreed with the nurse in charge and must be supervised.
Helping us keep patients safe
Do not visit if you are unwell. Please wait until at least 48 hours after symptoms stop.
Clean your hands when entering and leaving the ward
You should follow all infection control guidance from the ward, including wearing a mask if required.
Occasionally, we may need to restrict visiting due to increased incidence of infection.
Staying in touch
If you are unable to visit, we can support virtual visiting using phones or devices.
The bedside TV provision provides free outgoing telephone calls to numbers starting with 01,02 03 and mobile telephone numbers.
Presents for patients
You can bring gifts into hospital for patients for example: fruit, sweets, books and magazines.
Please do not bring flowers or valuables into hospital.
Newcastle Hospitals is a smoke-free site
This means that you are not allowed to smoke anywhere in the hospital buildings and grounds. If you are smoking on site, you may be asked to move off site.
Vaping is permitted only in outdoor areas, well away from buildings, entrances, and open windows.
Find support on how to stop smoking from your local stop smoking service.
