Process for enabling visiting on some wards

November 18, 2021

Due to reports of a lack of consistency in enabling visitors to designated wards, we would like to clarify the process to safely enable some visiting to take place. The confusion appears to be in the process by which visitors prove they are negative of COVID-19 through a lateral flow test. We have updated our poster here to advise that visitors must prove either photographic evidence of a negative lateral flow test (done the same day they wish to visit) or provide evidence from the government website where they uploaded their results. The Trust cannot provide lateral flow tests or accommodate visitors who wish to do a lateral flow test on site.

Our new visiting restrictions allow inpatients in amber areas to receive one visitor for up to 30 minutes per day. Patients can nominate two individuals who can visit for the duration of their stay, ideally from the same household. Visitors must use hand sanitiser and wear a face mask on entry. They must also show evidence of a negative lateral flow test result taken that same day to be checked on entrance to the building. All visits must be booked in advance by telephoning the ward to allow wards to limit the number of visitors on a ward / bay at any one time. All visitors must be free of COVID-19 symptoms, and must not attend if they are a household contact of a COVID-19 positive case. We regret we are unable to allow visits by children (under 16 years) or those who are immunocompromised.

The established visiting arrangements for paediatrics, maternity, community wards and ICU remain in place with the addition of evidence of a negative lateral flow test result.

Visiting remains permissible in all areas for patients at end of life and to support patients who are distressed or need support with nutrition and hydration. Please talk to ward nurse in charge who can provide guidance about a visiting schedule.

Red and green areas, (D17, D21, D25, L2 and L3) where visiting is currently not allowed should ensure you have robust systems in place to communicate with relatives / next of kin and to support communication between patients and their loved ones.

We will review visiting arrangements weekly based on a risk assessment taking into account COVID-19 case rates in the community, numbers of COVID-19 cases in our hospitals and any outbreaks.