Patients and Visitors

Coronavirus (COVID-19) update effective 5 November 2020

In order to protect patients, staff and the public we have restricted visiting arrangements.

Visitors will only be considered in exceptional circumstances where one visitor – an immediate family member or carer – will be permitted to visit. These include:

• One regular carer for a patient with additional needs, e.g. dementia, mental health or learning disabilities
• One parent or guardian for a child
• One person accompanying a person in labour
• For a patient receiving end of life care
• For a patient where a change in treatment would benefit from a meaningful exchange
• One close relative for a long-stay patient where a visit would improve wellbeing.

Outpatient Appointments

If you are attending an outpatient appointment, to maintain safe social distancing and reduce the risk of infection, we please ask that you attend your appointment alone. If you need to be accompanied, one carer is permitted in exceptional circumstances, but please discuss this with your care team beforehand. Any other relatives or friends will be required to wait outside of the hospital. 

Visiting the Emergency Department (A&E)

If you are attending one of our Emergency Departments, one carer is permitted to accompany a patient in exceptional circumstances. Please speak to staff on arrival for more information. Any other relatives or friends will be required to wait outside of the hospital.

The health, safety and wellbeing of our patients, communities and staff across the organisation remain our absolute priority. Thank you for your continued support and understanding at this challenging time. We will review these arrangements on a regular basis.

Personal property

Family and friends will need to contact wards directly to arrange to drop patient property off at reception, so that ward staff can collect the items.

For infection control purposes, the only personal property that can be received into the organisation are:

• Mobile phones and chargers
• Tablet devices
• E-readers (e.g. Kindle)
• Nightwear
• Underwear
• Clothing for discharge.

Exceptions to this list will be made for items such as glasses, dentures, hearing aids and walking aids. 

Everyone should follow the expert national guidance on social distancing and self-isolation, staying at home wherever possible, to help limit the spread of coronavirus, protect the most vulnerable people in our communities and our NHS.