Information for visitors. A COVID-safe environment. Updated 15.2.21
The Hospice continues to review the latest guidance and practices available to ensure a COVID-safe environment for everyone.
If you are visiting a patient in the hospice please see the restrictions below.
All visitors will be asked screening questions and have their temperature checked, prior to entering the hospice and when visiting your loved one we ask you to please stay in the bedroom, staff will escort you to and from the room.
Visiting patients
Following the most recent national lockdown related to the rising numbers of COVID-19 cases and the new variant of the virus, which is more easily transmitted, we have had to severely restrict visitors to the Hospice. We are sorry for the understandable distress this will cause to patients families and friends but is necessary to help us to keep our patients safe and also help protect the staff caring for them.
Patients are asked to isolate for 14 days after transferring to the hospice. We assess the need for visitors during this time and can work with families where there is a need for important conversations, where the patient is at the end of life and other specific circumstances which would be discussed with the Nurse in Charge.
An additional measure to reduce the risk of passing on the virus is the introduction of testing for all visitors to the inpatient unit. Before being able to visit relatives will have to have a test for COVID-19 using a Lateral Flow testing device (LFD) which produces a result within 30 minutes. A test is required at the time of visiting and then every 3 days.
Visits to patients in the in-patient unit
Visiting is restricted to one person for one hour a day. This will be following a negative LFD test and during one of the slots agreed on the day. Visiting is assessed on a day to day basis depending what is happening in the hospice.
Visitors can be different people each day (from an identified bubble of four people). Please can families help us to manage this by relaying this message to their wider family members and friends.
When patients are in the last hours of life we will, wherever possible, support additional visits for immediate family members. In these cases we will discuss with families any requirements necessary to ensure this is done safely. At these times you may be exempt from having a test before visiting. We would also like to support important conversations prior to the final days of life and this can be discussed with the Nurse in Charge on an individual basis.
If a patient has suspected or confirmed COVID-19 visiting is not allowed. Immediate family members can have one individual visit in the last days of life during the above time slots. A LFD test is still required prior to these visits. Please can families help us to manage this in liaison with the Nurse in Charge.
Virtual visiting can be offered via a smart phone or iPad.
We appreciate that this is very difficult for patients and their families but these restrictions are in place to protect patients and staff from the consequence of this potentially life threatening virus.
Visitors to all patients
All visitors will be asked to wear the relevant personal protective equipment (PPE) throughout their visit for their own and others safety.
You will be advised on this when you arrive, but everyone will be asked to wear a surgical face mask and gloves.
We acknowledge that these restrictions are severe and we can only apologise for any distress this causes to patients, families and friends.
We must however stress the importance of everyone adhering to these requirements to help us to keep our patients safe and also help protect the staff caring for them.
If you have any concerns, please raise these with Louise Sinclair, Head of Clinical Services.
Additionally, the following restrictions remain in place:
Anyone with a known underlying health problem that puts them at additional risk, should not come to the Hospice.
Anyone experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19 (e.g. high temperature, new continuous cough, loss of taste or smell) or living with anyone with these symptoms must not come to the Hospice.
Visitors are only allowed to be in the patient's room and must not congregate in any other area of the Hospice.
All visitors must wash their hands on arrival and/or use the hand gels available on reception and at the entrance to the Hospice.
Louise Sinclair, Head of Clinical Services