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Updated local visiting guidance

8th June 2022

Updated visiting arrangements

Click on the link below for each area’s information: 

Royal Victoria Hospital, Mater Infirmorum Hospital, Belfast City Hospital and Musgrave Park Hospital

Children’s Hospital

Maternity services


Local visiting arrangements: Royal Victoria Hospital, Mater Infirmorum Hospital, Belfast City Hospital and Musgrave Park Hospital

Belfast Trust continues to review visiting arrangements to ensure the safety of patients, their relatives and staff while valuing the real benefits that visiting brings to patients and their loved ones while in our care.

Wednesday 8 June 2022 visiting arrangements will be as follows:

  • Where possible, virtual visiting remains the preferred option as this reduces the risk of spread of Covid-19. Virtual visiting may be booked through:
    • The Patient Liaison Service via the Trust Switchboard 028 90240503
    • Requesting at ward level
  • One of three nominated visitors can visit twice per day for an hour throughout the patient’s stay in hospital.
  • Wards/ departments will continue to operate a booking system for all visitors through the Nurse in Charge.
  • You must not visit any of our facilities if you are unwell or have any symptoms of Covid-19 or are a known contact of someone with COVID-19
  • Before each visit, please support us by taking a home Lateral Flow Test (LFT) these tests are free of charge from community pharmacies.
  • Please support us by continuing to wear a face-covering while you are in our facilities. Some wards may ask you to replace your face covering with a surgical mask or a visor during your visit, which will be provided.
  • Please note these arrangements are subject to change for instance if a ward or department are in outbreak. If you require any further information, please speak to the Nurse in Charge of the relevant ward/department.

The Trust will continue to facilitate additional visiting in special circumstances:

  • Vulnerable patients – where an advocate is required.
  • Older patients – where an advocate is required.
  • End of life care.
  • Inpatients in the Children’s Hospital.
  • Inpatients in the Maternity Hospital.

For further information on visiting please visit the Department of Health’s website here.


Local visiting arrangements: Royal Hospital for Sick Children

Belfast Trust continues to review visiting arrangements to ensure the safety of patients, their relatives and staff while valuing the real benefits that visiting brings to patients and their loved ones while in our care.

Wednesday 8 June 2022 visiting arrangements will be as follows:

  • Care Partner arrangements – two parents will continue to be allowed to visit/ stay with their child or young person at one time across all ward areas
  • Following the completion of a risk assessment a third adult nominated person will be allowed to visit for one hour per day. When this cannot be facilitated this will be discussed with the family and kept under review
  • Wards/ departments will continue to operate a booking system for all visitors through the Nurse in Charge.
  • You must not visit any of our facilities if you are unwell or have any symptoms of Covid-19 or are a known contact of someone with COVID-19
  • Before each visit, please support us by taking a home Lateral Flow Test (LFT) these tests are free of charge from community pharmacies.
  • Please support us by continuing to wear a face-covering while you are in our facilities. Some wards may ask you to replace your face covering with a surgical mask or a visor during your visit, which will be provided.
  • Please note these arrangements are subject to change for instance if a ward or department are in outbreak. If you require any further information, please speak to the Nurse in Charge of the relevant ward/department.

The Trust will continue to facilitate additional visiting in special circumstances.

For further information on visiting please visit the Department of Health’s website here.


Local visiting arrangements: Royal Jubilee Maternity Service

February 2023 Update

Following the COVID-19 pandemic we are gradually returning to normal, which includes a return to normal visiting within our hospital.  Below are details on who can accompany you during specific parts of your pregnancy journey.

Who can accompany you when you come into RJMS?

As we are a healthcare facility, we still have to adhere to guidance regarding the number of people who can accompany and visit you if you have to stay in hospital overnight.

We can facilitate up to 2 people at any one time (to include 1 birth partner) except in circumstances when more or fewer visitors are deemed necessary following discussion with the midwife-in-charge and/or the Maternity Co-ordinator.

Your responsibilities as a visitor

Please help us fight infection by following these 5 simple rules when you come to RJMS:

  1. Please wear a face covering/mask when visiting our building and wear this throughout your visit.
  2. Clean your hands before, during, and after visiting our hospital. You will find many hand sanitiser points in our wards and corridors
  3. Don’t visit if you feel unwell, have a cold, flu, diarrhoea or vomiting or are symptomatic or have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 5-7 days
  4. Don’t bring perishable foods into our hospital
  5. Please adhere to our visiting times and the numbers of visitors allowed at one time.

The Trust operates a zero tolerance policy in respect of violence and aggression. Staff or visitors displaying threatening or abusive behaviour will be required to leave. Visitors who wish to use recording equipment (for example to record a video on their mobile phone) should seek permission from the staff caring for them at the time

Bringing Food into Hospital

We strongly discourage patients and their relatives from bringing perishable food into the hospital for consumption on the premises. Perishable foods are considered to be:

  • meats
  • poultry
  • sandwiches
  • takeaway food
  • dairy products etc

Foods which may be brought into RJMS include:

  • sweets
  • fruit and vegetables (washed and ready to eat)
  • foods which can be safely stored at room temperature e.g ‘long-life products’
  • non-alcoholic drinks

In exceptional circumstances, perishables may be brought to women with the permission of ward staff. In these circumstances due care and full responsibility must be taken by the women or their visitors.

***********ALLERGY WARNING***********

We have staff working within our teams that have severe nut allergies.  It is important that when bringing any food into our hospital that you DO NOT bring in any nuts or any products containing nuts.

 

Bringing in gifts

Gifts of alcohol or cigarettes are strictly forbidden. If in doubt about any other gifts, ask the advice of your midwife or the staff looking after you.

Flowers, pot plants and balloons are not permitted in any of our ward and departments as an Infection Prevention and Control measure.

 

Visiting our Neonatal Unit

Parents are a vital member of the neonatal team and are welcome in the unit at any time.

  • Grandparents may visit between 14:00 and 19:00 each day
  • Only 2 people will be permitted at the cot side at any time
  • Please note that visiting may be limited to only parents under certain circumstances
  • We do try to limit the number of people who touch and handle your baby to reduce the risk of infection. To assist with this we ask that only parents touch or handle babies. This has the benefit of also allowing maximum periods of rest to assist with growth and development
  • Mobile phones are permitted however these should be kept on silent mode to minimise noise within the unit
  • It is extremely important to reduce the risk of infection in the neonatal unit and therefore we would ask you to:
    • Wash and gel your hands on arrival and during your visit
    • Follow correct handwashing procedures. These are detailed on the posters at each handwashing station
    • Remove outdoor coats etc. before entering the clinical areas. Lockers are available to store belongings.

 

For further information on visiting please visit the Department of Health’s website here.