Visiting is between the core visiting hours of 10.30am and 7.30pm in adult inpatient wards and community units, where this can be achieved safely and the patient wishes to receive visitors.
Visiting will usually be limited to a maximum of two visitors at any one time, unless exceptional circumstances apply and this is agreed by the clinical team and permitted by the clinical environment.
All visitors are to identify themselves to a member of the nursing staff on arrival and before leaving, completing the Visitors Register so staff are aware of who is on the ward at any time. Attendees present to support a visitor, such as a carer or interpreter, are considered part of the care team and are not included in the number of visitors a patient is permitted to have.
Compassionate visiting applies where visiting outside core hours may be appropriate in order to deliver individualised, personalised care. This includes neurodivergent patients, patients living with dementia or delirium, patients receiving end of life care, patients with specific mental health needs, patients transitioning from paediatric to adult services, critical care patients, and patients supported by carers, as well as individual cases at the discretion of the ward or unit manager.
Where compassionate visiting outside core hours has been agreed, personalised arrangements should be agreed based on individual patient needs and documented in the patient’s Electronic Patient Record.
All adult inpatient ward and community settings welcome visiting between 10.30am and 7.30pm. Visiting time details will be displayed at the entrance to the ward or unit. If visiting times are restricted, for example because of infection prevention and control precautions, this will be clearly displayed at the entrance and communicated to family, carers and friends.
Requests for visiting outside of core hours must be discussed and agreed with the ward or unit manager and documented in the Electronic Patient Record. Visitors may be asked to temporarily leave the visiting area, for example 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.
Two parents or carers are welcome 24 hours a day, but there are only facilities available for one parent or carer to sleep at their child’s bedside. Siblings are welcome to visit from 8am until 7.30pm and are to be supervised by a parent or guardian.
Other family members are welcome to visit during the daytime between 1pm and 7.30pm, but should be accompanied by a parent or carer, with a maximum of three adults at the bedside at any time. Newborn twin visiting arrangements should be agreed with the ward, unit or department manager.
Requests for compassionate visiting outside of these hours must be discussed and agreed with the ward, unit or department manager and documented in the Electronic Patient Record. Alternative arrangements exist in some areas, including Paediatric Critical Care, the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, the Burns Unit and Galaxy House, and will be discussed with parents and carers on admission.
On the antenatal ward, one birth partner is welcome to visit from 6am until midnight. An additional two visitors, and siblings of the unborn baby, are welcome to visit from 10am to 8pm.
On Triage, the Delivery Suite and the Birth Centre, two birth partners are welcome at all times.
Parents are welcomed onto the neonatal unit at all times, in line with the individual needs of their baby. Please speak to the nurse in charge of your baby’s care about who else may visit and when.
Space in our Emergency Departments is very limited and the clinical area must be kept clear for patient care. Where possible, please attend alone unless you need support. If you are accompanying a child or a patient who needs a carer, one adult may stay with them.
In day case and outpatient areas, space is limited and appointments are often short. Please ask the department in advance if you would like someone to come with you, particularly for appointments where you may need support afterwards.
Protected mealtimes are there so that patients can eat and drink without interruption. Staff will let visitors know if they need to step outside during these times.
Please do not visit if you have a cough, cold, sickness or diarrhoea, or have been in contact with someone who has. Wash your hands on arrival and when leaving, and use the hand gel provided at ward entrances.
Our staff have the right to work without fear of violence or aggression. Any visitor who is abusive or threatening to our staff or other patients will be asked to leave, and may be reported to the police.