Notice for all our visitors
This page was updated 3 August 2023
You can now visit in person, and you do not need to book first.
Visitors no longer need to wear a fluid repellent face mask when visiting unless you prefer to or you're visiting a patient who is clinically extremely vulnerable, or are advised to by ward staff. However, our visiting guidelines may change where an infection control risk assessment requires this.
Please continue to follow guidance from our staff about masks and hand hygiene to help keep our patients and our staff safe.
Do not visit if you're feeling unwell. Read our advice on this page.
COVID-19, influenza, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
Respiratory infections, including COVID-19, influenza, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and viruses causing gastroenteritis, all remain a serious risk to health.
If you do show symptoms of these conditions, please do not visit. Instead, consider a different way to talk to patients on our wards instead of visiting in person, such as phone calls or video calls using tablet devices.
Contact the ward you wish to visit for more information.
See our STOP poster (pdf)
You can find more information on this page.
Wearing a mask and washing your hands
You don't need to wear face masks during visiting unless required following a risk assessment by the inpatient ward or if our staff ask you to.
Use the hand gel provided and wash your hands when you enter and leave our wards.
Please follow all guidance from our staff when you come to visit.
Number of visitors
Each patient can have two visitors, plus a carer if required.
More visitors may allowed if you need to be accompanied by a carer, or the person you’re visiting is receiving end-of-life care.
When you should not visit
You will not be allowed to enter inpatient areas if you have had any respiratory symptoms or gastroenteritis in the last 48 hours.
Restrictive visiting may be implemented where there is an outbreak situation following risk assessment.
If you can't visit face to face, consider other ways of contacting patients.
Do not visit if you, or the person accompanying you, have an of the following symptoms, then please do not come in to visit.
- Chest or nasal congestion
- Sore throat
- High temperature
- Wet or dry cough
- Shortness of breath
- Runny nose
- Fatigue
- Body aches
- Diarrhoea
- Feeling or being sick
- Sudden onset of Rashes
Visit the NHS website for more information about COVID-19 (opens new browser tab)
Restricted visiting
If we suspect or find evidence of infection outbreaks on our wards, we will restrict visiting to compassionate/ risk assessed.
If you do visit, we'll talk to you about infection risks and any appropriate PPE you will need to use.
Many of our services can arrange video calls between you and the loved one you would like to visit.
Contact the service directly to find out more.
If your loved one has a smartphone or tablet device with them, we may be able to help them set up video calls.
You can also send them a personal message.
Find out more about sending a message to a loved one (opens new browser tab)