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Visiting

Mask Wearing

Patients, visitors and staff are required to wear a face mask in clinical areas. Masks are not required in non-clinical areas such as the main entrance and corridors. 

We recognise that some people are more comfortable wearing a mask and if you would like to wear mask, please do so.

Visiting

We are committed to ensuring that people staying at our hospitals or within our settings, can receive visits from people they wish to see and those attending appointments in a hospital, that do not require an overnight stay, are accompanied by a family member, friend, or advocate if they want someone with them.

We will endeavour to ensure that the needs of our patients and their loved ones are met at all times, and fully recognise the importance of having a flexible approach to visiting.

If you have any queries regarding your visiting rights, please speak to the staff within the clinical area your loved one is a patient in or is attending an appointment.

In some circumstances, if you are visiting someone who has an infection – or who is especially vulnerable to infection – a member of staff may ask you to wear a face mask and, in some cases, other personal protective equipment.

As always, for anyone coming into our hospitals, please keep the following in mind:

  • if you feel unwell – for example if you have symptoms of Covid-19, any respiratory illness, flu, sickness or diarrhoea– please do not come to hospital
  • we may need to restrict visiting in certain areas from time to time to help protect our most vulnerable patients, or to prevent the spread of infections or illnesses. We appreciate your understanding in these circumstances
  • When visiting someone in hospital, always clean your hands using soap and water or alcohol hand rubs. Do this when you enter or leave a patient's room or other areas of the hospital
  • follow any local infection prevention and control measures, as advised by staff and signage

If you're concerned about the hand hygiene of doctors, nurses or anyone else you come into contact with in hospital, you're encouraged to ask them whether they have cleaned their hands.

Planned care

You no longer need to take a lateral flow or PCR test before you come into hospital. This is in line with the latest government guidance.

In some exceptional circumstances your doctor may still ask you to do a test, but this is very rare. This would be discussed with you before your admission to hospital.

Covid-19 vaccination

We continue to urge everyone who is eligible to be vaccinated against Covid-19.

Waiting times

During the height of the pandemic, as we had to focus more on caring for patients with Covid-19 and other urgent and emergency needs, our waiting lists for planned care grew. It is the same across the whole NHS. Our clinicians prioritise all patients waiting for care according to individual clinical need. Waiting times will be different for different people, even those with the same condition. If you require care more urgently, you will be seen more quickly. We are increasing our planned care capacity and have a number of other initiatives in place to help reduce our waiting times as quickly as possible.

If you or a family member are waiting for hospital treatment, you can access the NHS My Planned Care digital platform which provides the latest average waiting times across all NHS trusts.

The My Planned Care platform also provides helpful advice and support while you are waiting, including details on how to manage any pain, your mental health, keeping healthy and accessing financial help and other local support. It can also help you to prepare for your care, including how to make a plan for your care and treatment alongside your healthcare professional.

*Please ensure you have no Covid-19 symptoms when attending hospital*

 

Adult inpatient wards

Visiting hours are between 2pm and 4pm and 6pm and 8pm every day, unless there are other agreements in place with the ward.

Two visitors are allowed to visit the patient at a time. A different visitor is allowed each day.

Please speak to the ward to make arrangements to visit your friend/relative outside of these hours.

Children are not generally permitted to visit. However, consideration will be given to under-18s attending with appropriate support in exceptional circumstances.

You should always follow directions from ward staff. Please ask them if you’re not sure about anything

 

SSCU

Visiting is permitted between 2pm and 4pm and 5pm and 7pm

We ask that the same two visitors attend for the duration of the patients stay.

Visitors will also be asked to wear enhanced PPE including gloves, apron and mask.

 

Ward 107, ward 109, ward 111

We ask that in the above areas the same two visitors attend for the duration of the patients stay.

Visitors will also be asked to wear enhanced PPE including gloves, apron and mask.

One person may accompany a patient in the Emergency Department.

Visiting and Attending Appointments

*Please ensure you have no Covid-19 symptoms when attending hospital*

Antenatal appointments

  • Up to one partner can attend all hospital based antenatal appointments
  • Up to two partners can attend all community based appointments

 

Scans

  • One partner can attend all scan appointments

 

Induction of labour and birthing visiting

  • Two birth partners can accompany the woman for induction of labour, established labour and birth

 

Ward visiting (205 and 206)

Visiting is permitted between 9am and 9pm for partners and own children only.

General visiting is permitted between 6pm and 9pm .

No more than two visitors are allowed per bed at one time (including the partner).

Children must not be left unsupervised with patients on the ward.

For paediatric wards, each child can have two parents/carers visit a day with one parent/carer able to remain overnight.

In the Neonatal Unit, both parents/named carers are able to visit.

You should always follow directions from ward staff. Please ask them if you’re not sure about anything.

Outpatient appointments

Patients may be accompanied to their appointment by one other person.

Critical care visiting is now 10am-7pm everyday

Cardiothoracic critical care is  12-3pm  5.30-7.30pm everyday

Please contact the department to discuss.