Please use the NHS website for general health information about coronavirus and when to seek medical help.

To protect others, do not go to places like a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital if you have coronavirus symptoms.

Please use the 111 online coronavirus service to find out what to do.

Managing Recovery

NHS: Your COVID Recovery
Chartered Society of Physio Therapy: COVID-19 Road to Recovery
Animated YouTube Video
Asthma UK and the British Lung Foundation

After Being in a Healthcare Setting

After being discharged from A&E or a GP consultation: Coronavirus Information
After being discharged from a hospital stay: Coronavirus Information

Every Action Counts – A Video from the NHS

(Updated 4 January 2023)

Patients are allowed two visitors at any one time between the times of 11.30am – 8pm. However, visitors MUST confirm their visit with the ward beforehand as all visiting arrangements are kept under constant review in line with national guidelines and are subject to change at short notice. See our Ward Directory for contact information.

Please note that for patients coming in for planned surgery at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, unfortunately there is no space to accommodate visitors.

Visitors can stay with the patient for longer than one hour, and leave and return within the visiting times if they wish to (mealtimes remains protected).

Children and young people under 16 will be permitted to visit with an adult visitor. Young people over 16 will be treated as an adult visitor.

There will continue to be additional flexibility and support for compassionate visiting (special circumstances) and for those patients with specific needs. There are also separate visiting arrangements for Children’s Wards and Maternity which are all detailed below.

Visitors must wear a hospital-supplied Type IIR surgical mask at all times and are encouraged to take an LFT at home beforehand. Please DO NOT attend our hospitals if you are COVID-19 positive, are showing relevant symptoms, feel unwell, or are isolating.

Please be aware that visitors may be asked to leave the patient’s bedside temporarily whilst clinical duties and handovers are undertaken.

We recognise the real impacts the visiting restrictions have had on people, and we thank our communities for their patience and understanding during this time.

Compassionate Visiting (Special Circumstances)

Additional visiting may be permitted in exceptional circumstances such as:

• When a patient is considered at End of Life
• When a patient is given a life limiting or palliative diagnosis
• When a patient requires familiar support with communication, dietary or mental health needs including, but not restricted to, patients with Learning Disabilities, Dementia, Delirium with agitation, complex long-term health needs, or severe emotional distress

Compassionate visiting arrangements can be discussed with the Ward Manager or nurse in charge.

Children’s Ward

Compassionate visiting will continue for patients under the age of 18. Two visitors are permitted, with one parent/guardian able to stay overnight. Children on an adult ward can also have two visitors during visiting hours and one parent/guardian can remain with them outside of these hours.

Maternity

Delivery Suite: Two birth partners can attend.

Triage:One support partner can accompany each woman when they are being assessed in Triage. On arrival an initial assessment will take place which partners can be present for and if you need immediate care then your partner can stay with you while you are on the ward. If you are required to wait for further review or follow up, a pager will be issued to allow your partner and/or yourself to wait outside of triage due to capacity in the waiting area. When you return for further observations, your partner will be able to attend with you.

Antenatal (Ward 22): One support partner is able to visit between 9am – 8.30pm. An additional adult visitor is able to attend between 2-5 pm and 6.30-8pm. Maximum of two visitors at the bedside at any one time.

Postnatal (Ward 21): One support partner and siblings are able to visit between 9am – 8.30pm. An additional adult visitor is able to attend between 2-5 pm and 6.30-8pm. Maximum of two adult visitors, plus siblings, at the bedside at any one time.

Antenatal and Ultrasound Appointments: One support partner is able to accompany each woman to their booking appointment (at around 12 weeks), 16 weeks, 25 weeks, 28 weeks, 31 weeks, 34 weeks, 36 weeks, 38 weeks, 40 weeks and 41 weeks. Please be aware that children should not be brought to appointments

Neonatal: Two parents, or a parent and named guardian, are able to visit the unit together and have access to the unit at any time, day or night

We understand that there may be exceptional circumstances in some cases, so please speak to your midwife or care team prior to attending the hospital to discuss any requirements you may have.

Emergency Departments

Patients attending the Emergency Department, Surgical Assessment Unit or Medical Assessment Unit can be accompanied by two nominated people. The people supporting the patient should remain consistent and not change. Additional support may be permitted in exceptional circumstances.

Outpatient and Diagnostic areas

Patients attending outpatient appointments can be accompanied by a nominated person to support them.

Speciality areas

Compassionate visiting remains in place for people attending Day Case Units and Departments, examples of areas this applies to are Endoscopy, Chemotherapy Unit, Renal Unit, and the Haematology Unit.

Specific Needs

You can accompany someone into our hospitals if you are:

• Supporting them and the patient has a mental health issue such as dementia; a learning disability or autism where not being present would cause the patient to be distressed
• A carer for a vulnerable patient, or interpreter
• Supporting them at an outpatient appointment where they may become distressed

Thank you for your cooperation and help in this.

With some visiting restrictions still in place, it is important to keep patients connected with the people who are important to them.

We have a patient property drop off service to enable relatives/friends to drop off essential items and collect any items the patient wishes to send home. Only one relative or friend should come on to the site to bring the bag.

The service runs from 9am – 4pm, 7 days a week (excluding Bank Holidays) at the designated drop off areas. These are:

• The Ward Block entrance at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital
• The Main Entrance at the Princess Royal Hospital.

Please click here to access the site map.

Important information:

Only 1 bag of essential belongings can be dropped off. The bag should be wipeable and no bigger than approximately 60cm x 60cm.

The bag must be labelled with the following information:

• Patient’s name and date of birth (if known),
• The ward the patient is on, and
• The name and telephone number of the person dropping the bag off.

You will be asked to show your ID when you arrive to confirm your identity.

You will also be asked to fill in a form to confirm the items which have been dropped off/collected.

Unable to drop items off?

For people unable to access the drop off and collection service due to distance or self-isolation, the League of Friends shop at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and the Friends of PRH shop at the Princess Royal Hospital will deliver items to loved ones.

Purchases such as: newspapers (to help keep in touch with the outside world), toiletries, magazines, cards, and small items of food that do not need to go in the fridge (e.g. biscuits). Purchases are subject to a £5 minimum and your card details will be taken over the phone

Royal Shrewsbury Hospital: Email: lee.herkes@nhs.net Phone: 01743 261008

Princess Royal Hospital: 01952 641222 ext: 4211

Car parking charges for visitors and patients have now been re-introduced at our hospitals. More information about parking charges is available here