Visiting Times

Updated: Tuesday 1 August 2023

Our current visitor policy remains as follows:

All inpatients (children and adults):

• Visitors are permitted anytime, with a limit of 2 visitors at the bedside at any one time.

Please note some wards may have local visiting arrangements in place. We recommend you check the arrangements with the ward you're going to before your visit.

Before your visit

Please do not visit a patient in hospital if you feel unwell. This includes symptoms of Covid-19, sickness, diarrhoea, fever, sore throat or flu.

Please note some wards may have local visiting arrangements in place. We recommend you check the arrangements with the ward you're going to before your visit.

During your visit

Mask wearing is optional in our hospitals for patients and visitors. There may be some circumstances where face masks are required, such as when visiting patients with a suspected or confirmed Covid or flu infection, which you may be informed of prior to attending our hospitals or on arrival in ward areas.

Face masks are available for patients and visitors who choose to wear them.

There may be some circumstances when we have to limit visitors for a patient, this will be managed individually by ward nursing staff and communicated to families/friends on the day.

Maternity Services

Read our visiting policy for maternity services.

Scans and appointments: Women are able to attend all Early Pregnancy Assessment Clinic (EPAC) appointments, all maternity appointments and antenatal scan appointments with one other adult.

Induction: You can be supported by one birth partner throughout induction and early labour.

Labour and birth: In established labour, you can be supported by two birth partners in all of our birth settings.

Visiting: One birth partner and one named visitor from 10am – 9pm. Siblings can attend between 2-6pm.

Coming to a hospital appointment

Hospital appointments are running as normal. Please don’t call to check that a booked appointment is going ahead. If anything changes with your care, we will be in touch.

Mask wearing is optional in our hospitals for patients and visitors. There may be some circumstances where face masks are required, such as when visiting patients with a suspected or confirmed Covid or flu infection, which you may be informed of prior to attending our hospitals or on arrival in ward areas.

Individuals attending hospital for an appointment can be accompanied by one other person.

• Please arrive no earlier than 15 minutes before your appointment.
• Please leave the building promptly after your appointment.
• If you require assistance, a Move Maker volunteer may be able to help. Please telephone 0117 414 3709 for further information to discuss your requirements

Guidance for visitors - hygiene

• Please wash your hands regularly and use the hand sanitiser provided when visiting our hospitals.
• Mask wearing is optional in our hospitals for patients and visitors. There may be some circumstances where face masks are required, such as when visiting patients with a suspected or confirmed Covid or flu infection, which you may be informed of prior to attending our hospitals or on arrival in ward areas.
• Do not visit if feeling unwell with sickness, diarrhoea, fever, sore throat or flu
• If you have had diarrhoea and/or vomiting, do not visit for at least 48 hours after symptoms have stopped. Spreading infections to people who are already unwell may mean they become more poorly or take longer to recover
• Do not sit on patient beds.
• Check with staff about bringing in food items. Wrapped sweets are preferable to unwrapped.
• Talk to staff if you have concerns about the cleanliness of the ward or public areas.
• Use public toilets, not patient toilets and remember to wash your hands.
• If in doubt ask a member of staff for advice.