Changes to our Visiting Policy: In line with the national requirements for people to stay at home, we have made significant changes to our visiting policy in order to minimise the risk of transmission of Coronavirus (COVID-19).
As of Wednesday 25th March 2020:
- No visitors will be permitted to any adult wards, other than in defined exceptional circumstances. The needs of patients receiving end of life care and patients living with learning disability, autism or dementia will be reviewed on an individual basis, and where appropriate one named visitor will be permitted at any one time.
- No children who are not patients are permitted to visit any Trust premises
- One birth partner is permitted to accompany a woman in the Delivery Units and the Birth Centre
- One named visitor per patient is permitted in Children’s Wards, Maternity Wards and Neonatal Units at any one time.
We recognise the importance to patients of maintaining contact with their family, friends and carers whilst they are in hospital. Where possible, staff will facilitate other means of communicating, such as telephone calls, FaceTime and texting.
A new, temporary Family Liaison Team has been established to support patients and families to maintain contact during this time.
Anyone who meets the limited criteria to visit a patient will be directed to wash their hands thoroughly for 20 seconds upon entering the clinical area and we would ask you to do the same on leaving the ward and during your visit if indicated.
Please be reminded that you should not visit the hospital if you have a high temperature or a new continuous cough.
Please do not visit if you feel unwell or have had contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case.
Visitors who are vulnerable due to chronic health conditions must also be advised not to visit.
We will continue to review this policy as new national guidance is received.