Update on hospice visiting rules – November 2020

As of Thursday 5 November, we have updated our rules for those visiting patients at the hospice on Foxhall Road. This is due to the newest restrictions in government guidance and the new lockdown rules.

The priority during the COVID-19 pandemic is to protect our patients, their families and our staff and volunteers, as we do not want an outbreak to occur in the hospice and then be forced to close to further patients being admitted, or to constrain our visiting guidance even further.

We do want to promote visiting but know that this needs to be done in as safe a way as is possible. We recognise this is a very challenging time for you and your loved one and when needed, we will consider carefully, exceptional circumstances while remaining vigilant, in order to make visiting happen within the guidance.

Please read all the details below and visit our coronavirus webpage for more information on your visit.

All visitors will be asked screening questions by reception to enable us to follow the correct guidelines.

There are three important basic principles for all areas of the hospice:

• Hands – please wash your hands on arrival in reception and before leaving the hospice
• Face – all visitors are required to wear a face covering whilst in the hospice.
• Space – social distancing of 2m is necessary throughout the hospice when travelling from the main entrance to your loved one’s bedside and, once at the bedside, we ask that you please remain at the appropriate distance.

To enable visiting to continue in the safest possible way please read and follow the below guidance:

On the day of admission

All patients are asked to nominate a bubble of five people who can visit while they are an inpatient. We will gather contact information and any details of specific needs at this time.

Appointments

All visitors are required to book their visits.

Our ward reception will be able to take phone bookings for appointments between the hours of 09:00 – 16:00 on 01473 707000 or you can make a prior booking while on IPU for the next day.

Our visiting sessions are:

• 11:00 – 13:00
• 14:00 – 16:00
• 18:00 – 20:00
• Times will be staggered for each patient to avoid congestion.
• Visits outside these times can be discussed with the nurse in charge, in exceptional circumstances.
• Each visitor can stay for a maximum of one hour per visit.
• On entering the building visitors will be asked screening questions by our reception team, regarding infection risk and recent travel/localised lockdowns.
• Visitors will be escorted to and from the bedside by a member of the reception team.
• 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. Where possible the receptionist will come and collect you from the bedside.
• Toilet facilities can be accessed in reception if required.
• Regrettably we are unable to provide catering for food or drinks for visitors at present.
• We understand that occasionally a visitor may need support of a carer or someone for emotional support, please discuss this with the nurse in charge who may give permission to have 2 persons.
• 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.
• If the medical or nursing team feel your loved one may be in the final days of their life or they are experiencing a significant clinical deterioration, we aim to be able to provide a more flexible approach including staying with your loved one overnight where possible. You are reminded to remain at your loved one’s bedside while on the ward.

In these circumstances please discuss your needs with the nurse or doctor in charge.

• If you or a member of your household develops a high temperature, or a new continuous cough, or loss or change to your sense of smell or taste, or if you have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 10 days, please do not visit.
• If you have been advised your family member is dying or there are exceptional circumstances, please call the ward sister or nurse in charge to discuss if a visit can be made possible. Please be vigilant to your own health and the risks to your loved one.
• If you or a member of your household has been currently advised to self-isolate due to travel requiring quarantine or a localised lock down, please call for advice on visiting before coming to the hospice. Visits in these circumstances will be limited to those the healthcare team feel are dying or who have experienced a significant clinical deterioration.

We ask for your help in respecting these rules.  If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask a member of staff.

We can also arrange virtual visits if this is your preference and messages can be left for your loved one with the ward reception or on our dedicated email: patientmessages@stelizabethhospice.org.uk

Visit our coronavirus webpage for more information on your visit.