Information for visitors

*Last updated Friday 4 August 2023

Inside our hospitals we care for vulnerable patients so all visitors and patients should;

• Regularly clean hands with hand sanitiser or wash with soap and water.
   
• Refrain from eating or drinking in clinical areas.
   
• Follow any Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) guidance as instructed by staff while they are on hospital premises.

Wearing a face mask inside our hospitals is a personal choice in clinical and non-clinical areas. Masks will still be available at our hospitals for those who choose to wear one.

Please do not enter our hospitals if;

• You have had any of the following symptoms in the last 10 days: A new continuous dry cough, a high temperature, a loss of or change in your normal sense of taste or smell, cold like symptoms (coughing, sneezing, sore throat, runny nose), diarrhoea or vomiting.
   
• You must not visit if you have been in contact with a known Covid-19, Influenza or diarrhoea or vomiting case in the past 10 days.
   

Adult inpatient wards

• Two visitors will be able to attend during dedicated visiting hours. Each ward has its own visiting schedule. You can review visiting hours for each ward here >  or speak directly to the ward caring for your loved one.
   
• Please do not eat or drink whilst in the ward.  
   

Outpatients and diagnostics

• Patients can bring someone to accompany them.
   

Emergency Department

• Any patient attending A&E can bring someone for support. Please note, if the department becomes crowded and unsafe, the supporter may be asked to leave.
   

Children and young people

• CED: To maintain safety and reduce overcrowding, only 1 parent/carer to attend, no siblings. It may be that if you arrive with siblings and more than 1 parent/carer you will be asked to leave. There may be exceptions, this includes newly delivered mums where both parents will be able to attend.  
   
• PAU: Up to two parents or carers per patient. No siblings.
   
• Outpatients: Up to two parents or carers per patient. No siblings.
   
• Sunflower (Electives) Up to two parents/carers.
   
• Paediatric wards: Each patient will be allowed up to two parent/carer visitors during the day with one parent/carer able to remain overnight. 
   
• Neonatal Unit: Parents, siblings, and grandparents have open access to the unit (a parent must be present unless advised otherwise). A maximum of 3 per cot side of which 1 must be a parent (siblings not included in this number).

Maternity

• Labour ward: two birth partners throughout labour and birth.
   
• Inpatient antenatal and postnatal ward: one support partner may have open visiting. There can be up to two additional visitors from 2pm-4pm, and from 6pm-8pm daily.
   
• Postnatal inpatients: one support partner may have open visiting and can stay overnight. There can be up to two additional visitors from 2pm-4pm, and from 6pm-8pm daily.
   
• Siblings are permitted to visit but children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Any other children under 12 are not permitted on the ward.
   
• Antenatal Clinics, Fetal Medicine and Ultrasound scan appointments: One support partner.
   
• Pregnancy Assessment Unit/Maternity Assessment Unit: One support partner.
   
• Induction of labour: Two support partners are able to attend during induction of labour.
   

Patients with dementia, autism, a learning disability, or mental health issues coming into Emergency Departments and inpatient wards, as well as outpatient departments, may be accompanied by a family member or carer.

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.

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.