Information for visitors to our hospitals

Changes to visiting due to coronavirus (also known as COVID-19)

We welcome and encourage visitors and the involvement of parents carers.

This page gives you general information about visiting Evelina London. You may also want to check our ward pages which have more specific information about each ward's visiting hours and any restrictions that may apply.

Visitor numbers

Usually two visitors per patient are allowed at any one time. This is to make sure that your children get the rest they need and other patients are not disturbed. However, if there is an infection on the ward, we may restrict this to one visitor per patient.

Visiting hours vary, so please check with the ward you are visiting.

If you are unable to visit during these hours, we may be able to be more flexible. Please ask a nurse on the ward for more information.

Most wards also operate a protected mealtimes period, where you will be asked to leave so that our patients can eat without interruption.

Sometimes we need to shorten visiting times to protect the welfare and privacy of all our patients. If this is the case, we will give you more information.

Phoning and writing to your child

There are lots of ways you and friends and family can contact your child. Find out more about ways you can keep in touch.

Preventing the spread of infection

We take cleanliness and infection prevention very seriously, but need your help to keep our infection rates low.

Infectious illnesses – If you have, or think you might have an infectious condition, please contact the relevant ward before visiting. This is especially important if you have chicken pox, measels, diarrhoea or vomiting as these infections can pose a serious risk to our patients.
Hand washing – please use the hand rub dispensers at the entrance of every ward to clean your hands on entering or leaving a ward. Some wards may also ask you to wash your hands before entering.
Flowers – please check with staff before bringing flowers. Flowers are not allowed in some areas as the water in the vase poses an infection risk.
Extra infection control measures – from time to time we may need to move patients out of the main ward. This is usually if they have an infectious condition that poses a risk to others or to protect them from infection. If this is the case, nursing staff will tell you about any precautions you need to take and whether there are any restrictions to visiting.

Smoking

Staff, patients and visitors are not permitted to smoke or use e-cigarettes anywhere on our hospital and community premises including the grounds and gardens.

For more information, see the Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust website.