Visiting Arrangements to the Inpatient Unit

Visiting Arrangements to the Inpatient Unit

St Luke’s continues to follow national guidance from Public Health England and the NHS to protect patients, visitors and staff from the spread of the coronavirus during the current lockdown restrictions to ensure everyone stays as safe as possible. This means that we have had to make changes to our visiting policy at the inpatient unit as follows:

1. Each patient is allowed three named visitors, but are only allowed to see one visitor at a time. However, if the individual visitor requires assistance we will accept a second person to help them.
2. Visiting hours are between 9-8pm. As of Wednesday 6th January visitors will be required to take a COVID test before entering the IPU. To accommodate tests results (which takes 30 minutes) the last visiting time will be at 5.30 pm. Visitors will not be allowed into the unit unless they have a negative result. 
3. The patient’s family are responsible for coordinating timings of any visiting as per our request. Unfortunately, we will not be able to admit anyone outside of these restrictions, unless you have made a special arrangement with the Nurse in Charge. 
4. Where an individual is within the last days of life, medical and nursing staff will discuss an individual arrangement with you in order to support you through this difficult time as best we can.
5. We ask that ALL visitors wear face coverings at all times. If you do not have a face cover, we can supply one. Our receptionists will direct you to put this on at the reception area and to use the hand sanitiser before you will be allowed into the unit. When the reception is unmanned, the nursing staff will ensure this procedure is followed. 
6. Please do not sit in, or stand together in communal areas and remain in the patient’s room at all times. If you require anything please ring the patient call bell and a member of staff will attend as soon as possible.  

The virus is highly transmissible and easily spread, so we politely ask that you  respect these arrangements and our staff as we try to protect us all and ease the burden on local NHS services.

We will review these arrangements on a weekly basis but if you would like to discuss any special visiting arrangements please do speak to the Nurse in Charge. 

We thank everyone for their patience and understanding.

Ursula Reeve

Director of Patient Services

Updated 8^th January 2021