Wansbeck General Hospital

Wansbeck General Hospital

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, for the safety of our patients and staff, visiting our hospitals is being kept to a minimum. We are sorry to have to continue to do this but this hopefully helps your loved one and other patients feel safe in our care.

We understand visiting is important so have arrangements in place to allow controlled visiting on our wards and departments, except for surgical wards which need to remain ‘COVID light’.

Evidence of Rapid Lateral flow test prior to your visit:

All nominated Visitors are now required to show evidence of a negative rapid lateral flow test prior to their visit on entering the ward. Your visit will be refused if there is no evidence of the rapid lateral flow test. Evidence of this negative test can be via the NHS confirmation e mail/text or by you bringing your test strip in a plastic bag to show the ward staff which will then be disposed of.

The trust has had to introduce this additional safety measure, as used in care homes, due to an increase in exposure of patients and staff to COVID–19 directly linked to visitors.

You must not visit if you are unwell, or one of your household have a new continuous cough or a temperature ?37.8°C or loss of, or change in, normal sense of smell or taste. If you have any of these symptoms or a member of your household does you need to self-isolate and contact 119 or arrange a test online via the government website for the person who is symptomatic.

Our aim is to keep our patients and our staff safe so please support us with this and understand why your visit may be refused.

Who can visit? 

One nominated close family member or somebody else close to the patient may visit in a one hour timeslot which must be pre-booked in advance. The nominated visitor is not interchangeable. The visiting times will be allocated between 10.00 and 19.00 and visitors are not allowed to stay overnight or use the patient toilet facilities (public facilities remain open).

How long is my visit?

Your visit will be for one hour and at a pre-arranged time. We need all visitors to keep to their hour to maintain social distancing and give all patients the opportunity to have their nominated person visit. When arranging your visit, we need you to provide your contact details which we are required to keep a record of for 21 days and provide data to NHS Test and Trace if requested.

What should I expect when I visit the hospital? 

Please wash your hands at the hospital entrance and wear a face covering when you enter the hospital until you leave. If you have not got a face covering a surgical mask will be supplied. There are also hand-sanitising points around the hospital – please feel free to use them.

You must ensure that you wear your covering or mask throughout your visit and you must not remove your face covering/mask or kiss your loved one.

Please follow social distancing guidelines and stay two metres apart from others.

This visitors’ guidance does not apply for:

Patients at the End of Life, Maternity, Children’s Ward and SCBU.