New guidance for hospice visits in Ipswich

From 19 July 2021, please read the following guidance if you are visiting a patient at the hospice on Foxhall Road in Ipswich:

The priority during the COVID-19 pandemic is to protect our patients, their families and our staff.

We recognise this is a very challenging time for you and your loved one and we will consider carefully exceptional circumstances while remaining vigilant.

We continue to need to follow some restrictions to visiting to ensure patients and our team are protected.

Under the guidance of local public health teams, there are some restrictions still in place:

• There are no limits to how many visitors a patient can have throughout the day, but will remain at 2 per visit maximum for indoors.
• For outdoor visits in the garden, a patient can have up to 5 visitors at one time.
• Visits can occur after the patient has tested negative for COVID-19 on day one of their admission.

Whilst visiting, you are required to follow the provided instructions and wear the PPE provided. The below will be explained to you when you visit the hospice.

These safety precautions have been implemented to keep all of our patients, staff and visitors as safe as possible.

We need to advise you that by entering a clinical area you are at higher risk of environmental exposure to COVID-19 infection and that you also present a risk of bringing infection to our patients who are some of the most vulnerable in our population.

All visitors are required to book their visits.

Our reception will be able to take phone bookings for appointments between the hours of 09.00-20.00 on 01473 727776 or you can make a prior booking while on IPU for the next day.

Our visiting sessions are:

• 09.30-11.30
• 13.30-16.30
• 17.30-19.30

Daily by appointment for one hour.

• Each visitor can usually stay for a maximum of one hour per visit.
• When visiting, please access the building via the main reception by ringing the bell.
• Visitors will be asked screening questions by our reception team regarding infection risk and recent travel/localised lockdowns when admitted to reception.
• All visitors will be required to wear a surgical face mask.
• Visitors should remain with their relative during their visiting time
• All our communal areas are closed to visitors; therefore, we ask that when visiting you remain by the bedside until the end of your visit.
• Toilet facilities can be advised by nursing staff if required.
• Regrettably, we are unable to provide catering for food or drinks for visitors at present.
• Children under 12 will be allowed to visit if booked and agreed prior with the nurse in charge, and only in exceptional circumstances. They will need to be accompanied at all times.
• We do not currently have overnight accommodation nor showering facilities for visitors.

For further information on visiting at this time, please read full details on this page.