Information for visitors

Visiting restrictions in our hospitals (updated Wednesday 11 November 2020)

We have temporarily changed our visiting arrangements to help respond to coronavirus and protect our staff, visitors and patients. We know that it's important for our patients to see family and friends and if face to face visiting is not able to take place, we will work with patients to faciliate video calls where possible.

With immediate effect all wards across UHDB, with the exception of Maternity, Paediatrics and Emergency Department, will restrict visiting unless the patient is receiving end of life care. All vulnerable patients, specifically those with learning disabilities, dementia, mental health or complex needs, as well as those who are unable to make decisions for themselves, may be accompanied by their carer/s.

All areas

All vulnerable patients, specifically those with learning disabilities, dementia, mental health or complex needs, as well as those who are unable to make decisions for themselves, may be accompanied by their carer/s.

Emergency Department

Where possible, we will continue to endeavour to support one person/carer to accompany the patient during their time in the emergency department, however at peak times this may not be possible due to social distancing and is at the discretion of the nurse in charge. 

Children/Paediatrics

Children’s inpatient wards – Children should be accompanied by one carer or family member who can stay overnight and visit anytime.

Neonatal Unit – mothers can visit anytime, and fathers can visit once a day for any duration. Parents may choose to stay all day or for a short period of time, but there should be no swapping or return in same day.

Maternity

A partner is permitted in the following circumstances:

• At 12 week (dating) and 20 week (anomoly) scans
• Women in labour can have one birth partner with them for the duration of their labour. The birthing partner will need to be wearing the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and needs to be the same person throughout the birth.
• Women having elective Caesarean sections can have one birth partner with them and then stay after transfer to the ward for up to two hours.
• The birthing partner will be supported to stay with mother and baby in the recovery area on labour ward prior to transfer to the postnatal ward. Once on the postnatal ward, we would ask that the birthing partner returns home.
• For women on antnatal/postnatal wards, the birth partner can visit for two hours a day, for full details, see Maternity Services during Coronavirus >.

If being induced, the birth partner can attend the initial admission and then return home while awaiting the onset of active labour.

Sadly, we can’t allow birthing partners or visitors to attend the Pregnancy Assessment Unit/Maternity Assessment Unit, or antenatal clinics.

End of Life Care

Visiting is limited to one visitor and in accordance with the patient’s wishes. All visitors must wear PPE. Our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) will provide support via phone or virtual communication (for example, Skype, WhatsApp) if family members are unable to visit, and will also act as a patient-family intermediary to exchange messages and letters.

Mortuary

We have taken the decision to restrict viewings only to instances where police identification is required by the coroner (in which case there must be a police presence). Whilst we appreciate the distress this may cause to families in the short term, the Trust must take measures to reduce the risk of staff contracting the virus, either from a patient or visitor to hospitals during the Coronavirus pandemic.

 

Visiting Outpatients and Diagnostics

If you come in for an Outpatients appointment or diagnostic, to support us to maintain social distancing and the safety of our patients and staff please come alone unless it is essential that you have someone with you or have an accompanying carer.

We acknowledge that patients attending these departments may sometimes be receiving sensitive news and test results and we will ensure that we support a compassionate approach to enable patients to be accompanied during these circumstances.

We may also ask that relatives or carers wait outside the clinic/department.

Face coverings/masks must always be worn unless removed as part of your consultation.

Please follow all of our infection control measures if you do come to hospital: 

• Visiting (except for Children’s and Maternity services) should be limited in duration to one hour and to one visitor unless in extreme circumstances such as End of Life Care. This should be agreed in advance by the ward and department.
• You should avoid coming to the hospital if you are feeling unwell, including with cold or flu symptoms, or have been advised to self-isolate due to contact with a person who is positive.
• You must always wear a face covering or mask on entrance to the hospitals. If you forget to bring face covering or don’t have access to one, we will offer you a surgical facemask to wear.
• Wash or gel your hands as soon as you enter a ward or unit. Please ask the Ward team about the additional protective equipment you will need on the ward.
• Please always remember to follow national guidance on social distancing and stay near the bedside and do not walk around the ward or department.
• Follow the additional measures that will be requested by our staff if you are visiting a patient with an infection.
• The ward will be organising a booking system so please phone the ward to agree a designated time.
• NHS trusts are also advised to keep a list of hospital visitors’ names and contact details, to aid the NHS Test and Trace teams if contact tracing is indicated.
• We are sorry but the following people should not visit adult wards during this phase
  • Children
  • Ladies who are pregnant

Further to the visiting restrictions in place, we are also providing chaplaincy and bereavement support for patients and their families of all faiths and none. A series of booklets with words from various different faith traditions have been created for ward staff to use at the End of Life. We have made arrangements for provision of Last Rites with families, but this may take place off the ward where necessary.

Contacting our wards

We understand that it is important to contact your loved ones while they are in hospital. Where possible, we encourage relatives and friends to call the patient directly or have a video call. Our sites have free WiFi which supports web browsing and instant messaging, allowing you stay in touch.

We also have in place a ‘virtual visiting service’, whereby video calls can be made and written messages delivered to patients from their loved ones which can be arranged through our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) team.
 

Find out how our 'virtual visiting service' helps keeps patients in touch with their loved ones >

Get information on our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) >
 

If you want to contact the ward for updates, we would be grateful if one person from the family can be the nominated contact, who then keeps the rest of the family and friends informed. This helps to keep our phone lines as clear as possible for other families who need updates.

We know that it’s important for our patients to see family and friends but please make use of the other options to stay connected with your loved one during their stay in hospital.