Published on: 17 March 2020
Please note: This information is now out of date. For the latest details on patient visiting during the COVID-19 pandemic, please see the visiting guidance in our COVID-19 section of the website.
The NHS has produced national guidance on visitors to inpatient (hospital) units. We are committed to adhering to this guidance, which you can find below. However we would ask that carers check with the nurse in charge before visiting.
For visiting in exceptional circumstances, please speak to the senior nurse of the ward.
“We are asking the public to limit visiting and to consider other ways of keeping in touch, like phone calls.
Visitors must be immediate family members or carers.
They should not visit any health and care settings, and this applies to all inpatient, diagnostic
and outpatient areas, if they are:
- unwell, especially if they have a high temperature or a new, persistent cough
- vulnerable as a result of their medication, a chronic illness or they are over 70 years of age.
Visitors should be limited to one per patient unless:
- the patient is receiving end-of-life care
- the visitor needs to be accompanied – accompanying visitors should not stay in patient, ward or communal areas, and this applies to inpatient and outpatient settings
- they are a partner and birthing partner accompanying a woman in labour.
No children under 12 should be visiting without the ward sister or charge nurse’s prior permission.
Hospitals and other health and care settings will restrict visiting to one hour per day at designated visiting times.
We ask for the public’s help in respecting these rules.”
