At present visiting is restricted to visitors for inpatients, agency staff and essential contractors only. The following guidance has been developed to support them to keep in touch safely.
From Tuesday 1 March, patients can have an unrestricted number of visitors but due to space, this is limited to four people at a time (children under 12 are not counted in the maximum of four.) Nursing staff will help you make additional arrangements if you are visiting someone in the final days of life.
All visitors are required to provide proof of a negative Lateral Flow Test which has been taken no longer that 24 hours before visiting a loved one. If you have not got proof, you will be asked to carry out a test at the Hospice before being permitted to visit a loved one. To help us keep you, and everyone here at the hospice safe, please read and carefully follow this important guidance:
Visitors must wear a face coverings at all times in the Hospice building. If you are exempt from wearing a face covering please inform staff. We may ask you to wear additional PPE if necessary.
This is an incredibly difficult time for everyone but we also must ensure everyone’s ongoing safety.
Visitors must wear a face covering at all times in the Hospice building. If you are exempt from wearing a face covering please inform staff. We may ask you to wear additional PPE if necessary.
Please wash your hands when you arrive at your loved one’s room, and also when you leave. Please also wash your hands if you touch your face covering.
Eating and drinking during visits is not routinely permitted.
No external visitors are permitted indoors in the main building at the moment except for visitors for IPU patients, agency staff or essential contractors. Additional footfall through the hospice brings additional risk of a Covid-19 outbreak and therefore safe management of visiting is essential. This enables us to continue with our compassionate approach to visiting for IPU patients.
If you have any symptoms of Covid, or if you should be self-isolating or in quarantine due to local or international restrictions, you must not visit the hospice building or our grounds. We are really sorry that this may cause distress but it is essential we maintain the safety of everyone in the hospice.
From Wednesday 15 September, inpatient visiting will be restricted to 6 named people per patient.
Please ensure that anyone accompanying visitors is aware that they will not be permitted to enter the building to wait in any circumstances.
Every time you visit:
* Please contact the ward areas via the intercom at the main entrance
* Please wait to see a member of staff each time you visit
* Please use the hand sanitiser before you enter and when you leave and wash your hands frequently
* You will be asked questions each time you visit related to Covid-19. We appreciate these will feel repetitive if you visit regularly but these are essential to maintaining everyone’s safety
* You will be asked to wear a face covering at all times – if you forget, don’t worry – we will have a small supply of masks for visitor use
* You MUST follow physical distancing of 2 metres ensuring that our staff have safe space to carry out care. This means you may be asked to kindly leave the room whilst care is being provided
* Please wash your hands thoroughly for 20 seconds every time you enter or leave the patient’s room or if you accidentally touch your mask
* If you cough or sneeze, make sure you follow good hygiene practice – cough or sneeze into the crook of your elbow or a disposable tissue then dispose of the tissue and wash your hands
* Sometimes you will want to hold hands to provide reassurance and comfort – remember the vital importance of washing your hands afterwards for 20 seconds
Should your loved one test positive for Covid-19, visits will be restricted to two named people only and staff will provide guidance about safe visiting precautions, including the option for window visiting.