Getting Here

In line with national and local guidance and in response to local levels of Covid-19 infection, we have made updates to the visiting policy across our sites, effective from 24^th December 2021.

Our updated visiting restrictions will continue to differ depending upon the level of risk associated with a patient’s pathway as set out by NHS guidance. These restrictions will also differ depending on the type of ward or unit, and whether a patient has been identified as having a specific need.

Key principles of the policy are:

• One visitor may be permitted following a risk assessment, if the assessment indicates that this can be achieved safely (i.e. low risk) and the patient wishes to receive a visitor.
• Visitors must have no symptoms or known recent Covid-19 contact or exposure.
• Visitors who have had Covid-19 infection, must have been asymptomatic for the previous 14 days.
• Any visiting should be pre-arranged or at a locally specified visiting time in order to minimise the number of visitors in a clinical area at any one time.
• Movement of visitors around the premises should be minimised.
• All visitors to Trust premises are required to abide by the Trust Protocol for the use of face masks.
• Visitors are required to comply with safety measures, including wearing a surgical face mask, distancing, handwashing and donning the appropriate PPE as identified by the clinical staff responsible for the patient’s care.
• Where specific needs have been identified, the number of visitors permitted and the length of time they may stay will be influenced by the assessed level of risk and the capacity to enable appropriate distancing measures.

In order to protect our patients and staff, visitors who refuse to comply with Infection Control requirements will be asked to leave the Trust’s premises.

Visitors are advised not to visit any of our premises if they are unwell; have a high temperature; a new continuous cough; a loss of or change to their sense of smell; or have had contact with a confirmed or suspected Covid-19 case.

Visitors who are vulnerable as a result of their medication, chronic illness, or are over the age of 70 are advised not to visit if possible.

In order to support families to maintain contact during a patient’s admission, processes have been put in place in our inpatient areas to support and encourage patients to access virtual visiting and alternative means of communicating with family and friends if they are able to do so.

In areas where visiting is restricted, our clinical staff are expected to maintain daily contact with an identified family member, as agreed by the patient or identified through a best interest process if the patient is not able to do so. The frequency of contact may be reduced if this is agreed by the patient and family.

We will continue to review the policy as new national guidance is received and in accordance with the local prevalence of Covid-19.

Thank you for your continued understanding and co-operation with these arrangements to help keep patients, staff and visitors safe.