Visiting restrictions

Changes from Thursday 23 March 2023

Open visiting is permitted across all areas between 10am and 8pm daily (with the exception of protected meal times).

Inpatients

Patients will continue to be allowed up to two visitors at any one time and booking will no longer be necessary for visits.

Outpatients

Patients attending an outpatient appointment may bring along one other person to their appointment.

Recommendations and rules will remain in place at the hospital to help keep people safe from COVID-19 and other infectious viruses.

Compassionate visiting

We support and welcome compassionate visiting. This may involve more than two visitors being allowed to attend a relative, and could be for extended hours. QEH seeks to enable all visitors to be with loved ones in exceptional circumstances, wherever possible, so do please seek out a member of staff on the appropriate ward for a conversation to discuss your needs.

Maternity Visiting

For details on visiting our Maternity department, visit their webpage.

Information for visitors

All visitors must continue to wear facemasks while on wards, and in other areas where they are interacting with patients and will be required to continue adequate hand hygiene practices on arrival and departure from the hospital, as well as entry and exit from wards and other clinical areas.

Please do not visit any hospital or healthcare facility if you have any symptoms of COVID-19, are a close contact of someone who is confirmed COVID-19 or if you have symptoms of diarrhoea and/or vomiting within 48 hours of the planned visit.

Protected mealtimes

This is a period of time set aside for breakfast, lunch and dinner when all non-essential activities on the wards will stop. If you are visiting a ward please respect the wards protected mealtime.

If you normally visit at mealtimes to help your relative or friend eat, we are happy for you to continue to do this. Please ask the nurse in charge how you can help.

If possible, please try to avoid telephoning the ward, or your relative, for information during these times so the staff can concentrate on helping the patients with their meal.