We are pleased to announce that we are returning to pre-pandemic visiting levels in our green COVID negative zones. The change is due to a continued reduction in COVID cases within our hospitals and the local communities. Wearing a mask in the hospital is now only required in Mask Wearing Zones.
Visitors to all areas must:
Visiting exclusions
During this time of pro-pandemic visiting, visitors are NOT allowed to visit with:
• A new, continuous cough
• A high temperature of more than 37.8°C
• A loss or change to sense of smell or taste
• Symptoms of diarrhoea and/or vomiting in the last 48 hours
• Is a contact of someone who was COVID-19 positive in the last 10 days
• There is an outbreak of infection on the ward they are visiting.
Where a face-to-face visit is not practical then
virtual visits will be supported and
facilitated.
Face coverings

Patients, visitors, and staff are no longer required to wear a face mask in most areas of the hospital. Anyone visiting the site is still welcome to wear a mask in any of our hospital buildings, if they prefer to do so.
However, to help protect the safety of our most vulnerable patients, Mask Wearing Zones have been introduced in some clinical areas.
Look out for our Mask Wearing Zone signs - they will tell you when you need to wear a mask in our hospital.
Mask wearing zones are in high-risk areas such as Emergency Department, Haematology / Oncology areas, Critical Care, Theatres, Cardiac Centre, area with patients who have respiratory infection and Covid positive or suspected Covid positive areas.
In general, masks are no longer required in offices, corridors, lifts, meeting and classrooms, restaurants and cafes.
Thank you for your continued support and please note updates will be made as and when needed in line with the latest guidance.
Visiting on adult wards
Two visitors will be able to visit a patient for up to 2 hours a day, during either 2-4pm or 6-8pm in our green COVID negative zones; 4-6pm will continue to be used for protected patient mealtimes.
Visiting to Critical Care and Lilford ward
Patients who have tested positive for COVID will have 1 initial visit after admission, then weekly thereafter until the patient has resolved and becomes Covid negative
Additionally, on Lilford Ward visitors will be asked to take a lateral flow test.
Visiting on paediatric wards, Skylark ward
Two parents/guardians may visit each patient each day. These visitors must be in the same household as the patient.
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Anyone showing any symptoms of coronavirus should not visit. This is essential for infection prevention and control. If visitors display symptoms of coronavirus they should be asked to leave and asked to organise a Lateral Flow Test through
gov.uk website
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One resident parent/guardian is allowed to stay with their child overnight
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For suspected or positive COVID patients, just one resident adult is allowed with no other visitors.
Visiting on our neonatal ward
Visiting on maternity wards
Birthing partners will be able to stay throughout the stay of their partner on Labour ward, Labour ward Theatres and the recovery room following theatre, in a safe and COVID secure way.
Birth partners will also be able to accompany their partner to the postnatal ward following delivery, if this is after 7.30pm in the evening, partners will be asked to go home shortly after arrival to the postnatal ward. Daily visiting on the postnatal ward for birth partners and one other, plus siblings this has been extended to 12pm-7.30pm.
Partners and other visitors will be asked to complete COVID-19 symptom questionnaire on arrival, stay in the room / bed space / and use the designated toilet facilities for birth partners.
One support person is also able to attend scanning appointments and antenatal appointments.
Visiting to antenatal appointments and ultrasound scans
Outpatient visiting
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Where possible patients should not bring a visitor with them to an outpatient appointment
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Visiting will be permitted for those who need additional support from a visitor during their visit
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Visitors may be asked to wait in another area depending on social distancing.
Emergency Department visiting
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Where possible patients should not bring a visitor with them to the Emergency Department
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Visiting will be permitted for those who need additional support from a visitor during their visit
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Visitors will be required to wear a mask and may be asked to wait outside or in another area depending on social distancing. If the department is busy, we may not be able to facilitate visiting.
Supporting our patients and their loved ones
When patients come into hospital or change between wards and departments, our team will make sure they consider reasonable adjustments for those patients who have additional needs such as dementia, learning disabilities or autism.
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We have visiting restrictions in place, however wards and departments should always be reviewing patients and supporting any of those with additional needs ensuring reasonable adjustments are in place as required. Wards and departments have the flexibility to support patients and their carers, as defined in the visiting policy and carers policy
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These adjustments should be reviewed on an individual basis based on the needs of the patient at the time. If you have any concerns, please speak to the ward or department manager.
If visitors have lateral flow tests available, we will always advise people to complete testing for their own safety and the safety of others.