Guidance for hospital visits

Whilst the Trust wants to offer access to relatives and friends, its visiting times policy has been developed to ensure a supportive, caring atmosphere for patients and to help prevent the spread of infection.

The Trust’s visiting guidelines include:

n Visitors are asked to wash their hands/use the alcohol hand rub on entering and leaving the ward.

n Restrict visitors to a maximum of two at any one time.

n Patients are encouraged to have a clear locker top to allow surfaces to be easily cleaned.

n Don’t bring unnecessary items, flowers or food into the hospital.

n Children under the age of 13 should be accompanied by an adult.

n Visitors are asked not to sit on the bed or touch wounds, drips or drains.

n People are urged not to visit if they or someone in their household has symptoms of cold, flu, vomiting or diarrhoea.

The Trust is also appealing to visitors not to bring food or drinks from hospital dining rooms or coffee bars on to wards.

Visiting times are displayed on posters around the hospitals and at ward entrances. The visiting policy is available on the Trust website www.southerntrust.hscni.net