Visiting A Patient
Please note: Due to the Coronavirus pandemic we have made the difficult decision to suspend visiting in our hospitals, with some exceptions. For more information please visit the Coronavirus section of our website.
Virtual Visiting
With visiting restrictions currently in place due to Covid-19, The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust have introduced a ‘Virtual Visiting’ service. This means patients who do not have a phone or tablet of their own can use one of the hospital’s devices to video call with the people who are important to them.
After successfully being piloted on a small number of wards, the service is now expanding across the Trust with investments being made in iPads to support this.
If you would like to virtually visit someone in hospital, providing the patient agrees, and the patient does not have their own phone or tablet, please contact the ward who can arrange a video call for you.
We understand not all of our patients will be able to access our virtual visiting service. If you would like to let someone know you are thinking of them whilst they are in hospital, you can send them a comfort pebble. Click here to send a comfort pebble.
Virtual Visiting Guidance:
Microsoft Teams – visitor guide
Lifelines 4 Loved Ones – visitor guide
Visiting Guidelines – Face to Face Visiting
Visiting someone in hospital plays a vital part in helping them to recover. We encourage you to visit your family and friends but ask you to follow some simple rules to reduce the infection risks to patients and aid their recovery.
We ask that a maximum of two people visit a patient at any one time to minimise infection. If for any reason you would like more than two people to visit at a time, you must arrange this in advance with the Nurse in Charge of the ward or unit.
Please arrange with friends and family to take turns if necessary. Do not feel that you must stay for all of the visiting time. Sometimes a quick visit and chat is all that is needed and it ensures that the patient can have enough time to rest and recover.
Children are welcome but must be supervised by an adult at all times within the hospital.
Unfortunately pets are not normally allowed into the hospital, with the exception of
- Guiding or assistance dogs
- Pets holding a pet passport as part of the End of Life Care scheme (please speak to a member of staff to find out more)
Please make sure that you have checked the ward page for details such as visiting times before you travel. These details can be found through our Ward Directory.
Due to hygiene reasons flowers are not permitted on the wards, so please refrain from bringing these when visiting.
Carers
If you are involved in giving care to a patient and would like to carry on doing this whilst they’re in hospital, please speak to the Ward Sister/Charge Nurse. You may be able to help give them more information from you about your relatives or friends care needs.
For more information and support regarding being a carer, please visit our dedicated Carer’s Page.
Do keep your hands clean. Use alcohol gel on entering and leaving the ward. If you are unable to use the alcohol gel for religious or medical reasons, please wash your hands very carefully with soap and water at the sinks provided, then dry them thoroughly.
Do ask advice from the Ward Sister/Charge Nurse before going into an isolation room.
Do leave if we ask. We may need to give care or treatment to your relative or friend, or to another patient. To ensure privacy and dignity we may ask you to wait outside for a few minutes.
Do respect hospital property and ensure you leave all areas clean and tidy.
Do tell us if you have any concerns about patient care or cleanliness, or if you have any suggestions for improvement. Please speak to the Ward Sister/Charge Nurse. If you wish to speak to the Matron please ask a member of staff or reception to contact the Matron for you.
Don’t visit if you are suffering from any infection such as a cold, flu, sore throat, diarrhoea, vomiting or a chest infection. If you have been in contact with an infectious illness, such as chicken pox, do not visit – telephone and ask for advice from the Ward Sister/Charge Nurse.
Don’t use ward toilets – these are for patients only. Please use the nearest public toilets. Ask a member of staff to direct you.
Don’t bring in flowers or plants. Wards cannot allow plants or flowers due to the risk of cross infection.
Don’t share patient toiletries, tissues, towels and other personal items with other patients.
Don’t sit or lie on the patient’s bed.
Don’t touch wounds, dressings or any other medical equipment such as drips or catheters.
Don’t visit in work clothing which may be dirty.
Don’t bring cooked or uncooked meals into the hospital. If you are concerned about special dietary needs for medical, religious or cultural beliefs, please talk to the Ward Sister/Charge Nurse so an appropriate meal plan can be arranged.
Other Useful Information
For advice or support on quitting smoking and information regarding local services, please contact the Hospital Stop Smoking Service (Princess Royal Hospital: 01952 641222 Ext. 4464; Royal Shrewsbury Hospital: 01743 261000 Ext. 4464), or visit our Stop Smoking page.