Information for visitors

Visiting restrictions in our hospitals (updated September 2021)

Due to continued high levels of Covid positive inpatients within our wards and Critical care Units across our hospitals, visiting still needs to be managed carefully. People who are unwell in hospital are vulnerable and at a higher risk of Covid-19 than those who are well.

We have been operating a compassionate visiting policy for some time now and  propose to make changes moving this towards a Safest Visiting approach. We know that it’s important for our patients to see family and friends, but we ask for you to please work with us and consider if your visit is essential, to help prevent the spread of infection. Please read the changes made to visiting restrictions below.

If a family/carer or friend is unable to visit, please speak to the ward staff who can arrange to pass on a message or arrange a virtual vist >.

 

Guidance to all visitors

• You should avoid coming to the hospital if you are feeling unwell, including with cold or flu symptoms, or if you are Covid positive or have had recent contact with someone who is Covid positive

• We request that you undertake a lateral flow test prior to visiting the ward and only attend if it reads a negative result

• The ward will be organising a booking system so please phone the ward to agree a designated time

• 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 sanitise 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

• Follow the additional measures that will be requested by our staff if you are visiting a patient with an infection

• Once on the ward do not leave until your visit is complete as you will not be able to return

Adult inpatient wards in the Trust

• Each patient will be allowed 1 visitor of their choice for a maximum period of 1 hour per day. Contact the ward staff to arrange >

Visiting outpatients and diagnostics

• 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 masks must always be worn unless removed as part of your consultation

Emergency Department

• Restricted to 1 person per patient however this will be reviewed if the department is crowded

Children and Young People (CYP) Services

• CED, PAU and outpatients 1 person per patient

• Sunflower (Electives) have 1 parent/carer (this has to be the person who has isolated with the CYP.)

• Paediatric ward high risk patients in isolation (covid and RSV). The parent who attends with the CYP stays with the CYP through their stay unless extenuating circumstances

• Paediatric wards medium risk patient. Parent/carer can change over every 24 hours unless extenuating circumstances

• Neonatal Unit open visiting for both parents

Maternity services

• Labour ward: 2 birth partners when in active labour
• Inpatient antenatal and postnatal ward: 1 visitor for up to 4 hours a day
• Antenatal and USS appointments: 1 partner
• Home births: Due to current pressures affecting all areas within maternity services, we’ve made the difficult decision to suspend our home birthing service across Derbyshire and Staffordshire. Access further information about the temporary change to our home birth service >

 

Exceptions

All vulnerable persons specifically those with learning disability, dementia, mental health or complex needs and those who are unable to make decisions for themselves, may be accompanied by their carers or advocate. If this cannot be accommodated within the visiting restrictions above, carers are encouraged to speak to the ward/department team, who can contact the LD specialist nurses/Dementia specialist team about reasonable adjustments that may be required and provided according to their circumstances.

In cases, such as where patients are critically ill or nearing the end of their life, we will work with families to ensure that we make a risk assessed decision to allow as many close family members as possible to visit their relative through a compassionate visiting approach.

Organisations can exercise discretion where Covid rates are higher within the local communities and or within the hospitals including where outbreaks are occurring. The health, safety and wellbeing of our patients, communities and staff remain the priority.

We would like to thank you for your co-operation and support in limiting the spread of coronavirus and in keeping our patients, staff and visitors safe. If you have any questions about these restrictions, please speak to a member of staff on the ward or department.

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.