Visitors
Family, friends and carers are really important in supporting patients during their stay in hospital, at outpatient appointments or when accompanying them to A&E.
Our visiting times are listed below, however, if you are unable to visit during these times, the nurse/midwife in charge will be able to make alternative arrangements for you.
If you are visiting a patient who is receiving end of life care, has dementia, has a learning disability or mental health issues, visiting times will be flexible.
Adult inpatient wards
Visitors are welcome from 11.00 to 19.00, seven days a week. Patients are allowed two visitors at their bedside at a time, taking turns if necessary. This is for the comfort and safety of other patients in the same area.
Children’s wards
One parent/carer can be present for 24 hours, seven days a week. Between 07.00 and 21.00 each day, two visitors can be at their bedside at a time, taking turns if necessary.
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Family, friends and carers can visit 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Maternity services
When in active labour: two birth partners can accompany you in the birth room.
During a caesarean section: one birth partner can accompany you from admission and can remain with you during theatre, through recovery and when transferred to the postnatal wards.
Antenatal and postnatal wards: One birth partner can stay with you 24 hours a day. Two adults plus your own children can visit between 11.00 and 20.00.
Antenatal appointments: One birth partner or one nominated person can attend appointments with you. They can also attend maternity triage. You may bring your own children with you to appointments.
After 22.00 please keep movement in and out of the wards to a minimum to ensure a quiet environment for parents and babies.
Outpatient appointments
A patient attending an outpatient appointment at any of our hospitals can have one person accompany them.
If a patient is having a procedure, we will be unable to accommodate visitors in the procedure room, unless the patient requires a carer to receive treatment. In these circumstances, please speak to the nurse in charge on the day.
A&E, Ambulatory Care and SDEC
A patient can have one person with them when in the departments.
Intensive Care Unit
Two people at a time can visit between 14.00 and 19.00.
Day Surgery Unit
Visitors can wait with patients prior to their procedure. Visitors must leave when the patient is taken into day surgery to be prepared for their procedure. Visitors can then return when the patient is ready to be discharged.
If there are exceptional circumstances where a visitor needs to be with a patient, this can be discussed and agreed with the nurse in charge on the day.
General information
All visitors must report to the nurses'/midwives' station on arrival, before going to the patient’s bedside.
Provision can be made for visitors who wish to stay overnight with patients who are critically ill or have dementia or a learning disability. Please speak to the nurse/midwife in charge.
Cameras, including mobile phone cameras, may be used by visitors in the ward areas with the patient’s consent. Photos or videos must not be taken of any other patient, visitor or staff member without their informed consent.
Children are welcome to visit if the patient agrees. Accompanying adults must directly supervise any child they bring in and must not leave them unattended at any point.
For the safety and comfort of our patients, please:
- Do not visit if you have had diarrhoea, vomiting or flu-like symptoms in the last 48 hours
- Wash your hands before and after your visit using warm, soapy water or hand gel
- Keep noise to a minimum and be considerate of patients who are receiving care and recovering
Our staff come in every day to do the very best job they can in caring for our patients. They should be safe in their work environment. Patients and visitors who are verbally of physically abusive can be banned from our hospitals. No Abuse No Excuse.
Food regulations
We kindly ask that you do not bring food into our hospitals for patients. This is for health and safety reasons as we cannot guarantee how it will be stored or when it will be delivered, and our staff are not legally allowed to heat food that has been brought in.
However, if you do decide to bring food in, please understand that the Trust cannot accept liability for the way food from outside has been stored and/or prepped.