Mask Wearing
Patients, visitors and staff are required to wear a face mask in clinical areas. Masks are not required in non-clinical areas such as the main entrance and corridors.
We recognise that some people are more comfortable wearing a mask and if you would like to wear mask, please do so.
Visiting
We are committed to ensuring that people staying at our hospitals or within our settings, can receive visits from people they wish to see and those attending appointments in a hospital, that do not require an overnight stay, are accompanied by a family member, friend, or advocate if they want someone with them.
We will endeavour to ensure that the needs of our patients and their loved ones are met at all times, and fully recognise the importance of having a flexible approach to visiting.
If you have any queries regarding your visiting rights, please speak to the staff within the clinical area your loved one is a patient in or is attending an appointment.
In some circumstances, if you are visiting someone who has an infection – or who is especially vulnerable to infection – a member of staff may ask you to wear a face mask and, in some cases, other personal protective equipment.
As always, for anyone coming into our hospitals, please keep the following in mind:
- if you feel unwell – for example if you have symptoms of Covid-19, any respiratory illness, flu, sickness or diarrhoea– please do not come to hospital
- we may need to restrict visiting in certain areas from time to time to help protect our most vulnerable patients, or to prevent the spread of infections or illnesses. We appreciate your understanding in these circumstances
- When visiting someone in hospital, always clean your hands using soap and water or alcohol hand rubs. Do this when you enter or leave a patient's room or other areas of the hospital
- follow any local infection prevention and control measures, as advised by staff and signage
If you're concerned about the hand hygiene of doctors, nurses or anyone else you come into contact with in hospital, you're encouraged to ask them whether they have cleaned their hands.
Planned care
You no longer need to take a lateral flow or PCR test before you come into hospital. This is in line with the latest government guidance.
In some exceptional circumstances your doctor may still ask you to do a test, but this is very rare. This would be discussed with you before your admission to hospital.
Covid-19 vaccination
We continue to urge everyone who is eligible to be vaccinated against Covid-19.
Waiting times
During the height of the pandemic, as we had to focus more on caring for patients with Covid-19 and other urgent and emergency needs, our waiting lists for planned care grew. It is the same across the whole NHS. Our clinicians prioritise all patients waiting for care according to individual clinical need. Waiting times will be different for different people, even those with the same condition. If you require care more urgently, you will be seen more quickly. We are increasing our planned care capacity and have a number of other initiatives in place to help reduce our waiting times as quickly as possible.
If you or a family member are waiting for hospital treatment, you can access the NHS My Planned Care digital platform which provides the latest average waiting times across all NHS trusts.
The My Planned Care platform also provides helpful advice and support while you are waiting, including details on how to manage any pain, your mental health, keeping healthy and accessing financial help and other local support. It can also help you to prepare for your care, including how to make a plan for your care and treatment alongside your healthcare professional.
