Visitor’s Policy

Overview

All visitors are to identify themselves to a member of the nursing staff on arrival and prior to leaving the ward/unit/department, completing the Visitors Register to ensure staff are aware of who is on the ward/unit and any time.

Attendees present to support a visitor (such as a carer or interpreter) are considered to be part of the care team and are not included in the number of visitors that a patient is permitted to have.

Compassionate Visiting

The definition of compassionate visiting applies to the following patient groups where visiting outside of core hours may be deemed appropriate in order to deliver individualised personalised patient care:

• Neurodivergent patients i.e. learning difficulties, autism
• Patients living with dementia or delirium
• Patients receiving end of life care
• Patients with specific mental health needs i.e. distressed or displaying behaviour that challenges
• Patients transitioning from paediatric to adult services
• Critical care patients
• Patient supported by carers
• Individual cases at the discretion of the ward/unit/department manager

In the circumstances when compassionate visiting outside of core visiting hours has been agreed, personalised visiting arrangements should be agreed based on individual patient needs and documented in the patient’s Electronic Patient Record.

Bedside Visiting: Adults

All adult inpatient ward/community settings welcome visiting between 10.30am and 7.30pm. Visiting time details will be displayed at the entrance to the ward/unit. If due to exceptional circumstances i.e. Infection Prevention and Control precautions, visiting times are restricted this will be clearly displayed at the entrance to the ward/unit and communicated to family, carers and friends.

Requests for visiting outside of core hours must be discussed and agreed with the ward/unit manager and documented in the Electronic Patient Record.

Visitors may be asked to temporarily leave the visiting area i.e. during the delivery of care and treatment or during ward rounds to maintain the privacy and dignity of patients.

Alternative visiting arrangements are in place in Adult Critical Care areas.

Bedside Visiting: Babies, Children and Young People

Two parents/carers are welcome 24 hours a day, but there are only facilities available for one parent/carer to sleep at their child’s bedside. Siblings are welcome to visit from 8am hours until 7.30pm and are to be supervised by a parent/guardian.

Other family members are welcome to visit during the daytime between 1pm and 7.30pm, but should be accompanied by a parent/carer, with a maximum of three adults at the bedside at any time. Newborn twin visiting arrangements should be agreed with the ward/unit/department manager. Requests for compassionate visiting outside of these hours must be discussed and agreed with the ward/unit/department manager and documented in the Electronic Patient Record.

Alternative visiting arrangements exist in some areas, (Paediatric Critical Care, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, Burns Unit and Galaxy House) to those described above, and will be discussed with parents/carers on admission to the unit.

Bedside Visiting: Maternity

On the antenatal ward one birth partner is welcome to visit from 6am until midnight. An additional two visitors (and siblings of unborn) are welcome to visit from 10am to 8pm.

On Triage/Delivery Suite/Birth Centre two birth partners are welcome at all times.

On the Postnatal Ward/Enhanced Recovery one birth partner is welcome from 6am until midnight. An additional two visitors (and siblings of newborn) are welcome to visit from 10am to 8pm.

Bedside Visiting: Neonatal Unit

Parental access to the unit is 24 hours per day and parents are encouraged to spend as much time as possible with their infant.

Siblings have the same access rights as parents and can attend the unit at any time so long as parents are present and they are supervised by a parent at all times. Siblings will not be counted in the two/three visitors per cot guidance.

Relatives and friends of the infant must be accompanied by a parent/carer for security reasons, unless previously agreed by the nurse in charge. All visitors must leave the unit by 21:00 hours.

Two people at a time may be present at the cot side (one parent/carer and one visitor) in the intensive care rooms as the rooms can be very busy and there is limited space. Three people at a time may be present at the cot side (including one parent/carer) in the high dependency and special care rooms.

Emergency Department Visiting

Adult attendances

Adult patients attending the Emergency Department may be accompanied by a maximum of two visitors at any one time, either a family member, unpaid carer or friend when they require additional support during their time spent in the department.

Patients who meet the criteria for compassionate visiting will be supported to have more than two visitors at any one time, at the discretion of the department manager.

Due to the risk of overcrowding and associated risks of safety and infection prevention transmission, in exceptional circumstances patients attending the Emergency Department may be asked to restrict visitors to one person.

Babies, Children and Young People attendances

Patients attending the Paediatric Emergency Department (PED) can be accompanied by up to two parents/carers, with siblings attending as required in the family unit.

In the instance of overcrowding occurring in PED, the risk to safety and maintaining infection prevention practices will be assessed by the senior clinicians in charge of the department and family members/carers may be asked to reduce to one accompanying the patient for a period of time, with alternative childcare arrangements for siblings where possible.

Daycare/Outpatient Visiting

A maximum of two family members, carer/s or a friend are welcome to accompany patients when attending an outpatient appointment or for daycare treatment. Visitors may not be able to remain with the patient throughout the appointment/treatment which should be discussed with the patient and visitor on arrival.

In the instance of overcrowding occurring in daycare or outpatient departments, the risk to safety and maintaining infection prevention practices will be assessed by the senior clinicians in charge of the department and family members/carers may be asked to reduce to one accompanying the patient for a period of time.

Protected Mealtimes

We operate a ‘Protected Mealtime Strategy’ to facilitate a better patient experience and encourage patients to eat and drink without unnecessary interruptions.

It is appropriate for visitors and / or volunteers to be present at mealtimes if they support and encourage the patient to eat and drink.

Infection Control Guidelines

All visitors must be asymptomatic of any acute illness or underlying health issue which may result in increased susceptibility or vulnerability for patients, staff or other visitors. If visitors feel unwell, such as respiratory illness, flu type symptoms, diarrhoea or vomiting they are advised not to visit.

Visitors must follow all local infection prevention and control measures, as advised by staff and signage, including using hand sanitiser as they enter and leave any wards/units/departments.

Use of personal protective equipment (PPE) may be required in line with infection, prevention and control advice.

Violence and Aggression Policy

Anyone working in the NHS, receiving NHS treatment or visiting NHS locations has the right to feel safe and secure from violence and abuse, both physical and verbal.

Any visitors whose behaviour or conduct is disrespectful, intimidating or offensive will be asked to leave the Trust premises.