Tier 4 - Changes to visiting hours | Trust news

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Tier 4 - Changes to visiting hours

Changes to visiting hours to be put in place from Tuesday 22nd November 

As an NHS Trust providing care to hundreds of thousands of people in Croydon, it is our priority to keep our patients and our staff as safe as possible.
As a result of the recent Government announcement, which placed London and the surrounding areas into tier four, as of Tuesday 22 December we will be reducing the Trust’s visiting hours in order to protect both our patients and our staff from COVID-19.

If you have a dry cough, a high temperature or a loss or change in your sense of smell or taste, please do not visit at all. If you are concerned that you have symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) please visit https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

If you do need to visit friends and family in hospital, you will need to:

  • Wear a face mask or covering: All visitors will be required to wear their own face covering, which they will need to wear throughout the duration of their time in hospital
  • Wash your hands: You must wash your hands, regularly with soap and water or the hand gel provided, especially before and after you leave a ward
  • Keep a safe distance: All visitors must maintain social distancing to help control the virus and keep patients, other visitors and staff safe.

Tight controls remain in place and all visiting is at the agreement of the senior nurse in charge of each clinical area.

If you are planning to visit a patient, please be aware that until further notice, the following visiting arrangements will apply at Croydon University Hospital:

Adult patients

  • Each patient may have ONE visitor – this will need to be one consistent visitor throughout the patient’s hospital stay
  • Visiting times will be between 6pm-8pm only and are limited to one visit per day

Paediatrics patients (children)

  • One parent or guardian will be able to stay with their child while in hospital
  • Visiting times for parents and guardians who are not staying overnight will be between 6pm-8pm only

Neonatal (Special Care Baby Unit)

  • For any of our premature or special care babies, two parents or guardians are permitted to visit their child at all times, together or separately.
  • Parents or guardians will need to wear additional Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as guided by our clinical staff

Emergency Department (Resus), Critical Care (ITU/HDU)

  • Only one visitor will be allowed for a limited period of time, and only as agreed with the nurse in charge
  • Visitors will need to wear additional Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as guided by our clinical staff

Antenatal scan appointments

  • Women are able to bring a partner or other adult with them to antenatal scan appointments. Some important measures are in place to help ensure this happens as safely as possible for you and your family.
  • For appointments that are in our community sites (not at Croydon University Hospital), the availability of partner attendance varies according to an estate risk assessment, which considers room size and waiting room size. This is often governed by an external body such as GP surgeries and children’s centres, and is there to keep you safe and well

Partner attendance with women in labour

  • Women in labour are welcome to bring their birthing partner to stay with them at all times as their consistent visitor
  • After delivery, mother and baby are permitted one consistent visitor throughout their postnatal stay in hospital
  • Visiting times for Hope (antenatal ward) and Mary (postnatal ward) are between 6pm-8pm only
  • All partners should be free of COVID-19 symptoms, not be in self-isolation, and it is essential that a mask is worn at all times in the hospital
  • If women request a second birth partner in labour and there are exceptional circumstances to be considered, women are advised to talk to their midwife as part of your birth plan discussion as this must be signed off by a Midwifery Manager and documented in their healthcare records
  • Unfortunately, in accordance with national guidance, we are unable to have any other visitors to our wards or clinics at present, including children. Your health, wellbeing and comfort are of utmost importance to us and we will revise these restrictions as soon as it is possible to do so
  • These visiting arrangements may be subject to change at short notice depending on changes to national alert levels

Our clinical staff will always do their best to accommodate visits to patients who are critically ill or nearing the end of their life. In these circumstances, visiting should be discussed with the nurse in charge.

Wherever possible, we would encourage family and friends to contact their loved ones when in hospital by telephone or video call instead, and we have invested in portable tablets on all wards to help you stay in touch.

 

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