We have issued new visiting guidance for winter.
We continue to care for patients with a number of transmissible infections and are asking for everyone’s help us to keep our hospitals safe.
Two visitors may visit adult inpatient and critical care wards between 10am and 7pm. Some exceptions may apply – please double check with the team/nurse in charge of the ward you plan to visit. Visiting hours exclude protected mealtimes (unless you are supporting a patient with feeding) so we kindly ask you to check these times with the nurse in charge before your visit.
All visitors are required to wear surgical face masks covering their nose and mouth when visiting wards. If visitors are helping patients with eating, dressing and other personal care they may be asked to wear and apron and gloves as well as a face mask. Visitors should clean their hands regularly, especially entering and leaving the ward area.
Visitors should stay at home if they are unwell. You should not visit hospital if you:
- Have any COVID-19 symptoms or have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 10 days
- Have had diarrhoea or vomiting. You should not come to hospital until you have been symptom free for 48 hours (two days).
- Feel unwell in any way
We strongly discourage anyone who is clinically vulnerable/immunocompromised from visiting wards areas where we have transmissible infections. Make sure you talk to the nurse in charge of the ward and make an informed decision that’s right for you and the patient before visiting.
There is generally no limit on the number of people who can see a patient for the duration of their hospital stay. However, in some circumstances where infection is high risk, the ward nursing team may ask to further protect a patient by limiting the number of people overall who can visit them.
More flexible visiting is supported on compassionate grounds for end of life care, people in formal caring roles and supporting patients with dementia or a learning disability.
The new guidance is in place in all ESNEFT hospitals and all the details are available on the visit pages of this website.
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