Parents and guardians are an important part of the ward team. You are therefore welcome to visit your child.
However, our main priority is each child’s care. Children who are ill or recovering from treatment need adequate rest.
Space is limited on the wards so we need to control visitor numbers for health and safety reasons. We have put in place the following arrangements.
Visiting arrangements
- Parents can visit at any time.
- After 8pm, only parents can visit.
- Parents are asked to keep other visitors to a minimum. It is important to maintain a quiet environment for your child.
- As a parent, you are responsible for the safety and behaviour of other children coming to visit. Please arrange supervision of children at all times.
- Only two visitors are permitted at your child’s bedside at any time. This helps us prevent the spread of infection.
- Visitors must use the hand gel provided when entering and leaving the ward.
- Please do not visit the hospital if you or any other visitors are feeling unwell.
- If other children in your family have been exposed to illness at school or nursery, please do not bring them into the hospital.
- Parents should advise other family members and friends about these visiting arrangements.
- Visitors may be asked to leave the ward when your child is having treatment. This enables staff to focus on your child’s needs.
- Some wards have slightly different visiting arrangements due to the care provided. Please check with nursing staff on your child’s ward.
There may be times when further visiting restrictions are in place due to outbreaks of infectious illness. Please respect any visiting restrictions while your child is in hospital.
Please note that certain circumstances may require your child’s visiting arrangements to be reassessed. Hospital staff will discuss this with you. Please respect these decisions.
Bringing food into hospital
Please do not bring perishable foods or foods containing allergens into hospital. If you are unsure whether a food contains allergens, please ask nursing staff for advice.
Perishable foods include:
- meats
- poultry
- dairy products
- sandwiches
- takeaway food
Foods with allergens include, but are not limited to:
- nuts
- eggs
- fish
Foods that may be brought into a hospital include:
- sweets
- fruit
- foods that can be safely stored at room temperature
- non-alcoholic drinks
In exceptional circumstances, perishable foods may be brought into hospital with the permission of the ward manager. All foods brought into hospital should be given to nursing staff for correct labelling and storage.
Hot liquids
Visitors should not take hot drinks into the ward cubicles. If you buy a hot drink in the canteen, please use a lid for your cup.
Staying overnight
We recognise that each child is an individual and each family has different circumstances.
The ideal person to stay overnight with a child is a parent or guardian. If necessary, parents may nominate one adult relative to stay overnight with their child.
Further information on staying overnight is available here.
Postal arrangements
Please ensure you clearly address any mail to a patient as follows:
Patient’s full name
Ward number
The Children’s Hospital
274 Grosvenor Road
Belfast
BT12 6BA
We also collect outgoing mail from the wards. Please ensure you have added the correct postage stamps to your mail.