New visiting arrangements for Inpatients – starting Monday 12 April 2021
In line with the cautious relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions in the community, NNUH is bringing back hospital visiting in a managed way.
The measures we have put in place are aimed at keeping everyone as safe as possible while recognising a need to see loved ones in person.
Many of the measures we put in place when we lifted restrictions at the end of the first wave have been brought back – such as one named visitor per patient per day for one hour, face coverings and social distancing. Also this time we have added the extra precaution of the need to bring with proof of a negative Covid-19 test result.
We recognise that this might not be daunting for some therefore we created a centralised booking system. Visitors can call one number and a member of the bookings team will take them through everything they need to know and do for their visit. The number is 01603 641185.
NNUH Deputy Chief Nurse Debbie Whittaker said: “We know how important it is to keep patients and families connected and we recognise just how tough this last year has been for patients and their loved ones. Now with the relaxation of the Covid-19 restrictions we have been able to review our visiting arrangements. These measures – including having confirmation of a negative Covid-19 test result – will help us to keep patients, staff and visitors as safe as possible.”
Background
The new process:
Patients will be able to nominate ONE person to be their visitor during their stay within the hospital.
The designated visitor can then book their visit through the Covid-19 centralised bookings team on 01603 641185, operating 08:00-16:00 seven days a week. The Booking Team will take note of visitor details: name, relationship to patient, and a contact number
Visitors will be required to be able to show a recent Covid-19 negative result that is no more than 72hrs old on the day of their visit. The bookings team will help you with details of how to arrange a test and if for any reason you are not able to get a community test or use a testing kit, or do not use email or a mobile phone, they can explain other options.
In and out of the hospital
Hands, Face, Space – keeping everyone protected
- You must wear a face covering within the hospital buildings at all times
- If visitors do turn up without a face covering, a mask will be provided – no admittance without. If you are exempt you will be offered a visor
- Leave all unnecessary belongings at home
- On arrival you will be asked to go directly to the ward
- You must maintain hospital social distancing conditions throughout your visit
- At the ward entrance you will have to:
- Report to the ward desk
- Remove coat, roll up sleeves, wash/sanitise hands
- On leaving visitors will be asked to wash/sanitise their hands again and exit the hospital directly
NB: visitors may be asked to leave the bay/ward during the visit for clinical reasons
Please note: If you or anyone in your household has had a positive Covid result you will need to isolate at home and not visit the hospital.
Where and how to get a test: Community testing facilities:
- District Asymptomatic Testing Stations (DATS) Teams testing – This can be booked via this link: Symptom-free coronavirus testing – Norfolk County Council (https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/care-support-and-health/health-and-wellbeing/adults-health/coronavirus/testing/symptom-free-testing)
- Other channels:
- Home Channel: Schools, nurseries and colleges testing: order coronavirus (COVID-19) rapid lateral flow home test kits – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Use this service to order free rapid lateral flow test kits to be sent to your home in England. You can order kits to test your household, childcare bubble or support bubble if at least one member:
- is a school, nursery or college pupil
- works in a school, nursery or college (including temporary workers or volunteers)
- works in an occupation related to a school, nursery or college
A test kit contains 7 tests. You can order one test kit per household each day from www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests)
If eligible a home kit can also be collected at a Library: Search locations here: https://maps.test-and-trace.nhs.uk/
- At a Local Testing Site / Regional Testing Site: Search here: Find a test centre (test-and-trace.nhs.uk)
(https://find-covid-19-rapid-test-sites.maps.test-and-trace.nhs.uk/)
It is important that the test result is registered via the government website to enable proof of test result for the hospital visit
Remember, please talk to the bookings team if you are unable to get a test or a result, but you still want to visit.
Other Information
Family (unpaid) carers – are not ‘visitors’ and their attendance on wards is to be managed via the ward. They will be required to undertake lateral flow testing in line with this process. Tests for family carers can be accessed through the same routes as the visitors.
If the patient would like to have someone else visit – the family (unpaid) carer will leave the bed-space for the duration of the visit.
There is separate guidance on visiting these areas:
- ED, emergency areas and Outpatients: https://www.nnuh.nhs.uk/patients-visitors/covid-19-information/outpatient-emergency-department-visits/
- NICU and Maternity visiting conditions will continue, although our visiting hours will be extended to 12pm-6pm and a Covid-19 negative result will be needed. At the moment there will be no changes to our clinic appointments in the community setting: https://www.nnuh.nhs.uk/departments/maternity-department/maternity-during-covid-19/
Remember there are other ways to stay in touch if you do not feel comfortable visiting the hospital. Find out more on how you can do that on our website: