Wards and visiting

Updated: 01.07.2022

Visiting restrictions: We are pleased to announce that we are returning to pre-pandemic visiting levels in our green zones.  The change is due to a continued reduction in COVID cases within our hospitals and the local communities.

Visitors to all areas must:

• Complete a welfare check of symptoms on arrival
• Visitors must clean their hands
• Not attend the hospital to visit if they have any symptoms of COVID or test positive

 

Face coverings: Our mask wearing guidance has changed as of Friday 1 July 2022

Due to an increase in the BA 4.5 strain of COVID we have re-introduced guidance requiring visitors, patients and colleagues to wear masks when in all clinical areas of the hospital.

From today, Friday 1 July 2022, all, visitors, patients and our colleagues will be asked to wear a mask when inside clinical areas at all times. This includes both inpatient and outpatient areas and anywhere you may receive clinical care.

Masks will not be required in non-clinical areas which are located outside of clinical areas for example in corridors, restaurants or offices.

If you test positive for COVID or have any symptoms of COVID, please do not attend the hospital unless you need urgent medical care. Anyone visiting the site should remember to wash or gel their hands frequently, especially when entering or exiting a clinical area.

We will review this guidance and update at the end of July. Visiting restrictions will not change in light of this new guidance, however some restrictions are still in place in certain departments.

Thank you for your continued support and please note updates will be made as and when needed in line with the latest guidance.

Visiting on adult wards:

• Two visitors will be able to visit a patient for up to 2 hours a day, during either 2-4 or 6-8pm in our green COVID negative zones.
   
• Pre-booking is no longer required but we will ask you to sign in and out of the ward and complete a symptom check on arrival.

 

Visiting to Critical Care and Talbot Butler:

• Visiting may still need to be pre-booked with the ward and will be at the ward managers discretion.
  
  
• Visitors may be asked to complete a lateral flow test before coming onto the ward. This will be supplied by the hospital.

Visiting on paediatric wards:

• One resident parent may stay with their child for the duration of their stay. This visitor will be offered lateral flow testing on day 1, 3 and 5 of the stay which will be provided by the ward. Parents or guardians may swap once during the child's stay.
  
  
• A consistent second parent or guardian may also visit for 2 hours per day subject to admission screen. This visitor will be asked to complete a symptom checker prior to visiting. This will be provided by the ward.
  
  
• A second parent or guardian may also visit for 2 hours per day. This visitor may be asked to complete a lateral flow test prior to visiting. This will be provided by the ward.  Sibling visiting will continue to be reviewed regularly.

 

Visiting on our neonatal ward:

• Two parents or guardians are able to visit any time on the neonatal ward.
  
  
• The parents or guardians will be asked to complete lateral flow testing twice weekly. These will be provided by the ward.
  
  
• Grandparents and siblings over 12 may visit during a pre-booked time slot following a negative lateral flow test.

 

Visiting on maternity wards:

• Women and birthing people will still be asked to complete a test on arrival.
  
  
• Birth partners are able to visit the post-natal wards. Please contact the ward on the day for times and visiting guidance.

 

Visiting to antenatal appointments and ultrasound scans:

• Visitors will no longer need to show a negative lateral flow test.
  
  
• One birth partner will be able to visit during appointments.
  
  
• Visitors must social distance

 

Outpatient visiting:

• Where possible patients should not bring a visitor with them to an outpatient appointment.
  
  
• Visiting will be permitted for those who need additional support from a visitor during their visit.
  
  
• Visitors may be asked to wait in another area depending on social distancing.
  
  

Emergency Department visiting:

• Where possible patients should not bring a visitor with them to the Emergency Department.
  
  
• Visiting will be permitted for those who need additional support from a visitor during their visit.
  
  
• Visitors will be required to wear a mask and may be asked to wait outside or in another area depending on social distancing. If the department is busy we may not be able to facilitate visiting.

 

Supporting our patients and their loved ones: When patients come into hospital or change between wards and departments, our team will make sure they consider reasonable adjustments for those patients who have additional needs such as dementia, learning disabilities or autism. 

• We have visiting restrictions in place, however wards and departments should always be reviewing patients and supporting any of those with additional needs ensuring reasonable adjustments are in place as required. Wards and departments have the flexibility to support patients and their carers as defined in the visiting policy and carers policy.
  
  
• These adjustments should be reviewed on an individual basis based on the needs of the patient at the time. If you have any concerns please speak to the ward or department manager.

If visitors have lateral flow tests available, we would always advise people to complete testing for their own safety and the safety of others.

 

 

The guidance may change at any time depending on our local COVID-19 situation and hospital response.