Visitor policy

We regularly review our visiting policy to carefully balance keeping people safe and enabling families to be together. This page has our most recent visiting information and may be more up-to-date than any letters you have received.

We have some extra safety measures in place at this time to help us to protect our most vulnerable patients from the spread of infection and maintain safe services. Please read this information carefully.

We expect all visitors to our sites (including community) to:

Regularly wash your hands and use the alcohol hand rub provided. The nurses in the ward and departments will guide you with this.
Wear a mask if you are asked to, as this is to protect our most vulnerable patients. Children under 11 will not be expected to wear a mask.

Please do not attend any of our sites as a visitor if you are unwell.

Community visiting policy

Normally, two parents or carers may attend appointments with a child. However, there are some wards where only one parent or carer can attend at a time.
We respectfully ask that siblings do not attend.
If you or your child have confirmed COVID-19 or have been asked to self-isolate, do not attend and please inform us if you are unable to attend.
Anyone visiting a community site that appears unwell with symptoms of COVID-19 or any other respiratory virus (a new continuous cough, a high temperature, cold or flu-like symptoms, diarrhoea, vomiting or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste) may not be able to proceed with their appointment.
Staff visiting patients in their homes will wear masks in certain circumstances.

Hospital visiting policy

For most children that need to stay overnight, two parents or carers may visit at the same time. However, in some areas, only one parent or carer can visit at a time. Normally, we welcome other adult visitors and siblings between 12 noon and 7pm, but there might be times when this is not possible.You will be advised of this.
For children staying overnight, a maximum of two visitors can be at the bedside at any one time. In some areas, we need to restrict this to one visitor. We ask that visitors swap outside the hospital.Only one parent or carer can stay overnight with their child.

Visiting policy in hospital areas with flu or other respiratory virus cases

During times of increased cases of flu, we sometimes need to reduce the number of visitors who come into our hospital. This helps to prevent viruses being brought into our wards, and protects patients.
Flu is highly infectious and can be passed from person to person very easily, through tiny air particles.

Extra measures in hospital areas with high flu cases or other respiratory virus cases to help reduce the potential spread

Only 1 parent or carer is allowed to be with a child, whether they are staying overnight or visiting.
If the parent or carer is changing, they must swap over outside the hospital.
No siblings (brothers or sisters) will be allowed to visit.
Parents or carers will be asked to wear a surgical face mask in certain wards or areas of our hospital.
If you become unwell (fever, cough, sore throat, sore body/aching, sneezing) while visiting or at home, please:
- do not visit the hospital while you are unwell
- let the nurse looking after your child know that you are unwell
- you can come back into hospital once your symptoms have resolved.
Make sure that you wash your hands or use alcohol hand sanitiser regularly, including when you enter or leave wards.

This visiting policy is in place for a specific period of time when flu cases are high in some hospital areas.It is regularly reviewed by medical experts, to make sure we are doing our best to help keep children and their families safe. It also helps to keep our staff safe and well, so they can continue providing the very best care for children and families.

Paediatric Intensive Care Unit

There are specialist visiting policies where children are receiving intensive care, which will be explained by the team caring for your child. We ask for your understanding that there will be very few exceptions to the policy. When your child is stable, our team will discuss visiting arrangements with you.

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

In our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, two named parents or carers are able to be with their baby at any time. Siblings and other family members may visit at allocated times, please discuss this with the nurse caring for your baby.

Useful links

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

See all our latest information about COVID-19.

There have also been some changes to our entrance.

More information about visiting at this time

This information outlines what is expected of parents/carers to help keep our hospitals and community sites free of infections.

It applies to all visitors.

Help us minimise the risk of infection to you, your child, our staff and vulnerable people within our hospital.

Normally, for appointments, two parents or carers can accompany a child. However there are some wards where only one parent or carer can attend.
For children who need to stay overnight, each child will have two named parents or carers on our system. Normally, both named parents or carers can visit together. However, sometimes only one named parent or carer can visit.
Normally, adult visitors and siblings can visit between 12 noon and 7pm. A maximum of 2 visitors can be at a bedside at anytime. At times, this might be restricted to 1 visitor. Siblings should be accompanied by an adult.

Before visiting

If you are in a high risk group for COVID-19 please do not visit the hospital. Call the nursing staff.
If you have symptoms of an infection e.g. fever, cough/ cold symptoms, rash, diarrhoea and or vomiting do not visit the hospital.
If you become unwell, phone the ward and do not visit the hospital.

While visiting

Please keep your child’s room or bed area tidy and free from clutter to help us to thoroughly clean the area.
Restrict your movement on the ward and limit the number of times you enter and exit.
You may be asked to wear a mask. If you are asked to wear one, the nurse looking after your child will explain how to put and take of a mask, explain how often you need to change your mask and will show you where new ones are kept.
Clean your hands frequently.
If your child has a suspected or confirmed respiratory viral infection, you will be expected to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) as directed by the nursing staff.

When to wash/clean your hands

Clean your hands when you enter a ward, before caring for your child, and if you remove or change any PPE you have been asked to wear.
Wash your hands with soap and water before meals or feeding your child, after visiting the toilet, and after changing your child’s nappy or helping them use the toilet or bed pan.
Alcohol hand rub is also available for cleaning your hands when leaving or entering your child’s bed area and at regular intervals throughout the day.

Keeping you safe

Find out all about the extra steps we are taking to keep you and your child safe at this time.

A number of transport strikes are due to take place this February. If you or your child has an appointment at one of our hospitals or community centres, please plan ahead and do all you can to attend. If you need to cancel your appointment, please contact your clinical team.