Patients and Visitors

Updated Monday 6 December

Protecting our patients and those who care for them is our top priority during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Effective from Monday 6 December 2021, our visitor policy has changed to allow patients on certain wards, who have been with us for over 7 days, one designated visitor for a pre-booked hour each day between 10am and 8pm. 

Help us keep your loved ones safe

Visitors who are having symptoms of COVID-19 or are feeling unwell in any capacity must not enter the hospital.

Anyone who has had symptoms, must not come into the hospital until they have been clear of those symptoms for at least 14 days

Visitors and patients should cleanse their hands on entering and leaving the hospital (this stops other germs) and entering and leaving clinical areas. This must be a mixture of both hand gel (at the main entrance) and using soap and water in hand basins – either in one of our public toilets or on the ward being visited.

Detailed guidance

• All visitors must be symptom free and not under any self-isolation conditions.
• All visitors must enter by either the main entrance or the North Hospital entrance at St Mary’s Hospital and must only visit the one ward where their relative/loved one is.
• Face masks must be worn - masks will be supplied if the visitor arrives without a face mask. Visors will also be available.
• All visitors will be directed to locations for hand hygiene by ward staff, which should be performed at the beginning and end of each visit. Gloves are not needed for visitors. Visitors who arrive on the ward wearing gloves must remove them to avoid any contamination risk.
• No children under 16 are permitted to visit except in compassionate circumstances. This must be arranged in advance with ward staff.
• Visitors may only visit one patient and should sign in on arrival to the ward.
• In bays, curtains are to be drawn during visits to provide a physical barrier between beds and visitors.
• To help keep everyone safe, other ways of keeping in touch with patients such as phone calls or video messaging should be considered before visiting.
• Each patient is allowed one designated visitor. In exceptional circumstances, such as for patients receiving end of life care or where the visitor themselves needs assistance two visitors may be allowed – this must be arranged with the nurse in charge of the ward in advance by telephone.
• Each visit is assigned an hour per day for visiting to manage visitor numbers within the hospital sites.
• On arrival to the ward visitor’s contact details will be taken by the ward volunteer or ward staff.

Ward visiting information

Between 10am and 8pm, one designated visitor is permitted for patients who have been with us for over 7 days, on the following wards.

Visiting must be pre-booked with the ward directly, using the numbers below and the Isle of Wight prefix: 01983.

Compton	534055
Luccombe	534717
St Helens	534701
Stroke Unit	534311

Additional information

No visiting is permitted on the following wards except in compassionate circumstances (such as patients receiving end of life care or if a patient has additional needs, for example dementia, mental health or learning disabilities).

• Acute Assessment Unit (AAU)
• Alverstone
• Appley Ward
• Colwell Ward
• Coronary Care Unit    
• Day Surgery Unit.
• Emergency Department (ED)
• Intensive Care Unit
• Mottistone
• Short Stay Unit (SSU)

Maternity Department

There are no restrictions for birth partners, and they are welcome to attend all appointments and also have unrestricted visiting both on the antenatal, labour and postnatal wards.

We kindly ask that you and your partner wear a face covering for all appointments and for your partner to wear this when you are an inpatient. If you are unable to wear a face covering please speak to your midwife so that we can provide you with the appropriate support and advice

We also request that women and their partners undertake a lateral flow test before all appointments and once admitted to the ward we will undertake a COVID-19 test on both you and your partners

Neonatal Unit

Mother open access to the neonatal unit (she will have been screened for COVID-19 on admission to labour ward) Fathers visiting 2pm to 8pm.

Paediatric Ward

A parent or carer, who will be screened for COVID-19, will be able to accompany the child, as agreed with ward staff. Another parent may visit but please agree this with ward staff beforehand.

Outpatients Department

Due to social distancing in the waiting areas of Outpatients it is not possible to allow outpatients to have an accompanying person. Only those requiring assistance, and children, may bring an accompanying person.

Community Unit

Visiting at discretion of Ward Manager please contact the ward to discuss visiting arrangements.

Mental Health Wards – Afton, Osborne, Seagrove

Visiting at discretion of Ward Manager please contact the relevant ward to discuss visiting arrangements.

Wellow Unit

Visiting to the end of life care unit is open to visitors 24/7 as per the above detailed guidance. It is at the discretion of the Nurse in charge that close relatives and family will be supported to stay overnight with the patient. There will be no more than 2 visitors per bed at any one time. For more details please discuss with the nurse in charge.

Who to contact

If you have questions about this guidance or how to implement it, please contact: The Patient Experience Team on 01983 534420 or via email iownt.PatientExperience@nhs.net