Western Trust COVID19 Visiting Guidance

27/09/21

All Western Trust Hospital sites are to move to the same ‘1-1-1’ visiting restrictions, (one visitor per patient for one hour, once a day), with effect from 00:01, on Monday 27^th September, 2021 (in most circumstances).

• Inpatient wards

  One daily visit from one of two nominated individuals (from up to two households) can be permitted, where this can be accommodated within COVID secure environments.

• Hospice Facilities

  Omagh Hospital Palliative Care Ward is considered a hospice facility and aligns its visiting principles to the Regional Hospice services guidance.

• Intensive Care Units

  One daily visit from one of two nominated individuals (from up to two households) can be permitted, where this can be accommodated within COVID secure environments.  Visiting will be more flexible in exceptional circumstances.

• Emergency Department

  Due to inability to ensure a social distance of 2 metres, it is not possible for one person to be facilitated to accompany each patient at the Emergency Department.  Where possible the patient attending ED should do so alone, except where they have mobility or other impairment that requires them to be accompanied by one other person.

• Outpatient Appointments

  Due to inability to ensure a social distance of 2 metres, it is not possible for one person to be facilitated to accompany each patient at all outpatient appointments.  Where possible the patient attending for the appointment should do so alone, except where they have mobility or other impairment that requires them to be accompanied by one other person.

• Radiology Department (Including Breast Screening appointments)

  One person only to be facilitated to accompany each patient where the environment is COVID secure exceptions are in the following circumstances:

  • • Patient is unable to  understand or communicate with staff,
    • Patient requires physical or emotional assistance beyond that which Radiology staff can provide.
    • Patient is a child, so must be accompanied by a parent or chaperone. In these cases one person only to accompany patient.   
  • Foetal Anomaly scanning – Women attending for Anomaly scanning may be accompanied by one nominated person.
  • Any patient developing COVID-19 symptoms prior to their appointment should contact their local Radiology Department for rescheduling advice
  • For all attendances at Radiology a face covering must be worn.
• Cancer/Burns/Renal Units

  One person only to be facilitated to accompany each patient where the environment is COVID secure.  This is subject to local discretion in response to individualised risk assessment due to the vulnerability of the patients being cared for in these units.

• Day Procedure Units

  Due to inability to ensure a social distance of 2 metres, it is NOT possible for one person to be facilitated to accompany each patient attending for a day procedure as well as other short stay elective admissions. Where possible the patient attending for the appointment should do so alone, except where they have mobility or other impairment that requires them to be accompanied by one other person.

• Maternity Services
  • You and your birthing partner will be asked screening questions on entering the maternity building
  • You must wear your own face covering at all times while in the maternity building. If for medical reasons you cannot wear a face mask then a visor must be worn.
  • You must sanitise your hands on entering the maternity building and again on admission to
    the individual ward and department
  • We are offering a COVID-19 swab test to everyone admitted to the maternity service. This helps ensure that women in our hospital are safe.

  Scan and antenatal appointments

  • One partner may accompany a woman attending antenatal appointments
  • We have to adhere to 2-metre social distancing in our outpatient settings – in particular,
    the waiting areas. While you are welcome to bring your partner to all appointments,
    please be aware that your partner will be asked to wait outside the building until called into your appointment.
  • We would ask you to consider attending antenatal appointments on your own if you can
  • Please arrive no earlier than 15 minutes prior to your allocated appointment time
  • If your antenatal appointment is on same day as your GTT or Anti D your partner may only accompany you to your antenatal appointment and will be phoned to come in to join you
  • We cannot welcome children or other family members at this time to antenatal clinics.

  Labour and Birth

  • A nominated birth partner may accompany a woman for the initial induction process, the duration of the visit will be decided by the midwife in charge.
  • Women in early labour may be supported by one birth partner
  • One nominated birth partner may accompany a woman in labour to delivery suite/MLU and at the birth.

  Visiting in antenatal and postnatal wards

  • One daily visit from one of your two nominated persons can attend- (from up to two different households) will be permitted in our inpatient wards. The duration and timing of the visits will be decided by the midwife in charge.

  Please note this guidance will be subject to change and will be updated in line with the Trust and Government guidance

• Children’s Wards

  Any child admitted to the Children’s ward can be accompanied by two persons (either/both parents or two nominated caregivers from up to two households), at all times for the duration of the stay.  We would however ask that parents or other nominated visitors swap places (one person at a time at the bedside) to enable us to maintain effective social distancing.

• Neonatal Unit

  Both parents will be allowed to visit at any time during the day. It may however, not always be possible to enable both parents to be together at cot side, as this may restrict our ability to maintain effective social distancing – the nurse in charge will risk assess and advise as appropriate.

• Trust Residential Homes

  Two nominated visitors over the age of 16 at one time, for one hour twice per week will be permitted access to visit where this can be accommodated within an effective COVID secure environment. Visits will be accessible over a 7-day period as well as after 5pm. In a phased way, the opportunity for residents to travel outside of the residential home should be individually risk assessed and facilitated in accordance with the regional guidance.

• Community Hospitals and Intermediate Care Facilities

  One daily visit from one of two nominated individuals (from up to two households) can be permitted, where this can be accommodated within COVID secure environments

• Mental Health/ Older People Mental Health

  One daily visit from one of two nominated individuals (from up to two households) can be permitted, where this can be accommodated within COVID secure environments.  In specific circumstances where the visitor requires assistance then no more than one additional person will be permitted access to visit at any one time where this can be accommodated within social distancing guidance.

• Learning Disability

  One daily visit from one of two nominated individuals (from up to two households) can be permitted, where this can be accommodated within COVID secure environments.  In specific circumstances where the visitor requires assistance then no more than one additional person will be permitted access to visit at any one time where this can be accommodated within social distancing guidance.

• Physical Disability

  One daily visit from one of two nominated individuals (from up to two households) can be permitted, where this can be accommodated within COVID secure environments.  In specific circumstances where the visitor requires assistance then no more than one additional person will be permitted access to visit at any one time where this can be accommodated within social distancing guidance.

• Hospital Chaplains

  Where there is particular benefit from the Minister of Faith/Chaplain being present, and particularly given they are members of the multi-disciplinary teams providing pastoral care to patients/residents and are not counted in the maximum of “2 visitors”.  Chaplains will visit a patient once throughout the duration of their stay in hospital (variations to this are subject to individual discussions with the nurse in charge e.g. in an end of life situation) and only visit one patient per visit.  For all other contact, Chaplain’s will use the mobile devices that have been provided to them at individual wards/facilities. Chaplains will continue to adhere to the Trust IP&C and PPE guidance at all times.

• Virtual Visiting

  You can also continue to arrange a ‘virtual visit’ with your relative or friend on a smartphone or tablet. Our hospitals have access to free Wi-Fi and our staff can help set this up. Please be patient. Our staff will have to prioritise clinical work and patient care.

• Children Under 16

  Children under 16 are not permitted to visit.

• Zero Tolerance Policy

  Please remember that all measures being implemented are to protect patients and staff in these challenging times and everyone who visits our facilities should be respectful of all our staff who dedicate themselves to caring for others and saving lives. Please remember there is a zero tolerance policy in place across all Trust facilities, with respect to verbal and physical abuse towards any member of staff.