Changes to visiting in our hospitals and contacting our wards | Latest news

Changes to visiting in our hospitals and contacting our wards

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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 but please consider if your visit is essential to help prevent the spread of infection.

Changes to visiting – from midday on Saturday 14 March 2020

Visiting will be limited to only essential visitors on all of our wards and departments. Examples of essential visitors are:

  • Paediatrics – Children should be accompanied by carers
  • Maternity – restricted to one birthing partner
  • Emergency Department – restricted to one person if needed to provide support
  • Those who are unable to make decisions for themselves, in line with the mental capacity act regulations, may be accompanied
  • In some cases, such as where patients are critically ill or nearing the end of their life, we will of course do our very best to accommodate your visiting needs

If you have any questions about the guidance please speak to the relevant ward manager.

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

  • You should avoid coming to the hospital if you have a high temperature, a persistent cough, or have a loss of smell or taste 
  • You should avoid coming to the hospital if you are feeling unwell, including with cold or flu symptoms
  • Wash or gel your hands as soon as you enter a ward or unit
  • Follow the additional measures that will be requested by our staff if you are visiting a patient with an infection

We are sorry for the inconvenience and would like to thank you for your co-operation and support in limiting the spread of coronavirus.

 

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.

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 consider if your visit is essential to help prevent the spread of infection. 

Visiting will be limited to only essential visitors on all of our wards and departments as per the above guidance.

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