Hospitals update their rules for visitors to ward patients
HOW TO BE PREPARED FOR QUEEN’S HOSPITAL AND ROYAL DERBY
BURTON’S Queen’s Hospital and Royal Derby Hospital have updated their visiting rules.
Restrictions have been eased, despite the hospitals still caring for around 100 Covid-positive patients.
The new set of rules affects inpatients, outpatients, pregnant women, children and visitors. Bosses say they are trying to balance compassion with Covid safety.
Dr Magnus Harrison, interim chief executive at the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We have a duty to keep our staff and vulnerable patients safe and we set visiting rules with that in mind, while also trying to make sure patients are supported by their loved ones while in hospital.
“I’m pleased that this week we’ve been able to ease visiting restrictions across our hospitals following an extremely challenging few months.
“Covid hasn’t gone away and we’re still caring for over 100 patients who have tested positive, which is why we’re asking all visitors and patients to wear a face mask if they need to visit one of our hospitals.”
Here is a full updated list of the visiting rules at Burton Queen’s Hospital and Royal Derby Hospital:
Inpatients
Each patient will be allowed up to two visitors of their choice for a maximum period of one hour per day. Ideally these must be the same visitors or visitors from the same household, and people should contact the ward staff to arrange a visit.
Furthermore, do not arrive too early for your visit and leave the ward as soon as your visit has finished, and people should not visit any other part of the hospital. Visits should last no longer than one hour and you should not leave the ward area at any time with the person you are visiting.
Wards are operating a booking system so people are advised to phone the ward to agree a designated time.
Outpatients
You may bring one adult with you for support if needed, who will be able to be in the waiting room with you. If you don’t need additional support, people are advised to consider attending alone.
The hospital acknowledges that patients attending these departments may sometimes be receiving sensitive news and test results and they will ensure that they support a compassionate approach to enable patients to be accompanied during these circumstances. Face masks must always be worn unless removed as part of your consulta- tion.
Children
For CED, PAU and outpatients, two people per patient are allowed to visit. However, this will be reviewed if the department is crowded. Sunflower (Electives) can have two parents/carers (they need to have isolated with the CYP). In the paediatric wards, each patient will be allowed up to two parent/carer visitors during the day with one parent/ carer able to remain overnight. And in the neonatal unit, the new rules will see visiting times open for both parents.
Paediatric wards
Each patient will be allowed up to two parent/carer visitors during the day with one parent/carer able to remain overnight. The Neonatal Unit will be open for both parents to visit.
Maternity Services
Two birth partners will be allowed when in active labour. And for home births, due to current pressures affecting all areas within maternity services, the hospitals have made the difficult decision to suspend the home birthing service across Staffordshire and Derbyshire.
Guidance to all visitors
You must not visit if you have had any of the following symptoms in the last 10 days: A new continuous dry cough, a high temperature, a loss of or change in your normal sense of taste or smell, cold-like symptoms (coughing, sneezing, sore throat, runny nose), diarrhoea or vomiting.
You must not visit if you have been in contact with a known Covid, influenza or diarrhoea or vomiting case in the past 10 days, or if you or any member of your household is self-isolating.
The ward will be organising a booking system so people are advised to phone the ward to agree a designated time. You must always wear a face mask on entrance to the hospitals.
If you don’t have access to one, they will offer you a surgical facemask to wear. People are advised to keep their mask on for the duration of their time in the hospital and avoid touching your face or adjusting the mask once you’ve put it on.
Ensure this covers both nose and mouth at all times. Do not take off your PPE, and if you feel uncomfortable, talk to a member of staff.
Wash or sanitise your hands as soon as you enter a ward or unit. Ask the ward team about the additional protective equipment you will need on the ward. Follow the additional measures that will be requested by the staff if you are visiting a patient with an infection.
Once on the ward do not leave until your visit is complete as you will not be able to return.
You should follow signs to leave the department. Do not visit any other part of the hospital. You should dispose of your mask at the bin by the department exit and put on your face covering.
Exceptions
All vulnerable persons, specifically those with learning disability, dementia, mental health or complex needs and those who are unable to make decisions for themselves, may be accompanied by their carers or advocate. If this cannot be accommodated within the visiting restrictions above, carers are encouraged to speak to the ward/department team, who can contact the LD specialist nurses/dementia specialist team about reasonable adjustments that may be required and provided according to their circumstances.
In cases, such as where patients are critically ill or nearing the end of their life, the hospital will work with families to ensure that they have make a risk assessed decision to allow as many close family members as possible to visit their relative through a compassionate visiting approach.
Organisations can exercise discretion where Covid rates are higher within the local communities and or within the hospitals including where outbreaks are occurring.