COVID-19 Visiting Update

30th March 2020

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government restriction of movements and to protect patients, their families and all our staff, Health and Social Care is temporarily restricting the number of visitors across hospitals.

With immediate effect, all visits to our hospitals have now been suspended. Although there are some exceptions to this, these are subject to further review.

The ONLY exceptions are:

• Paediatrics: Any children admitted can be accompanied by one parent or carer at a time.
• Maternity: A person in labour can be accompanied by one birthing partner. There are no visitors permitted in antenatal or post-natal ward areas.
• Neonatology and Paediatric Intensive Care: A patient in the neonatal ward / paediatric ICU may be accompanied by one parent. The duration of the visit must be agreed with the Ward Sister or Charge Nurse.
• Critical care areas (including Adult Intensive Care Units, Coronary Care Units and High Dependency Units): One visitor permitted to visit. The duration and timing of the visit must be agreed in advance with the Ward Sister or Charge Nurse (normally a maximum of one hour).
• End of life care: One visitor permitted to visit. The duration and timing of the visit must be agreed in advance with the Ward Sister or Charge Nurse (normally a maximum of one hour).

DO NOT visit if you are feeling unwell, especially if you have a high temperature or new persistent cough. Children are also NOT permitted to visit.

You MUST thoroughly wash your hands or use sanitiser on entry when visiting. You should be bare below the elbows and have no jewellery except a flat wedding band. You should wash your hands or use sanitiser again when leaving.

If you can, please arrange a ‘virtual visit’ with your relative or friend on their smartphone or tablet. All Belfast Trust sites have access to free Wi-Fi and our staff can help set this up on the patient’s device.

Please be patient. Our staff will have to prioritise clinical work and patient care.

For further information, please see the Department of Health’s Frequently Asked Questions document.