Guidance on visitor restrictions – updated 7^th April 2021

The safety and welfare of our patients, their families and our workforce is our number one priority. The patients we support in our Inpatient Unit are clinically extremely vulnerable and include some with Covid-19. We recognise the importance of family members being able to visit their loved ones while in the hospice. However, to reduce the risk of infection and transmission, we are currently only allowing restricted visiting to our Inpatient Unit at the present time.  

Key Principles 

The key aspects of our current visiting policy are:- 

• Visiting is currently only by prior arrangement with the clinical team. 

• Any visiting is restricted to two nominated individuals. It is possible for the patient to nominate two further individuals over a seven day period.

• The names of the nominated individuals may be changed during a patient’s stay in agreement with the clinical team, but no more than once a week.  

• Only one visit a day will be allowed per nominated person. However, visiting times remain flexible.  

• Visitors will be asked to apply hand sanitiser on arrival, to confirm they do not have any infectious symptoms and they will be given instructions on wearing and taking off personal protective equipment (PPE). In addition, we are currently asking visitors to undergo a rapid response Covid-19 lateral flow test on their first visit and every seven days thereafter.

• They will be asked to sign a risk assessment and to provide their name, contact number and who they are visiting. Anyone who is not on the list of nominated individuals will not be allowed to visit. 

• Visitors will be escorted to the patient's room and shown how to wash their hands thoroughly on entering and leaving the bedroom. They must keep wearing PPE for the whole time they are with the patient.  

• Visitors will be restricted to the patient's bedroom or the garden immediately outside the patient's bedroom during their visit. 

• Visitors should not sit on the patient’s bed and should minimise the time spent within 2 metres. 

• All personal belongings should be left in the car or with the Host at the hospice Welcome Point on arrival. 

• Any gifts or food for the patient must be discussed in advance with the nursing team. They should be in packaging which allows for wiping with sanitiser. 

Visiting Covid-19 Positive or Suspected Patients 

• Anyone visiting patients in isolation due to a suspected or confirmed Covid-19 diagnosis will be escorted to the patient’s room and a Nurse will check that PPE is being worn properly.  

• Time spent within 2 metres must be absolutely minimised. 

• At the end of the visit, a nurse must be summoned by using the call bell, so that the taking off of PPE can be properly supervised.

• Following the visit, each visitor will be advised that when they return home they should remove any clothing worn during the visit and wash it separately from any other clothing. 

• For a further update on how the charity is moving forward through the next phase of the pandemic please click to read the CEO's update here