Changes to mask wearing, patient visiting and more
On 7 July 2022 due to rising levels of Covid-19 in our local communities, we reintroduced mandatory mask wearing. To keep our patients and staff safe, everyone must wear a mask in all indoor areas of our hospitals and community healthcare settings.
We understand that a few people may have a medical reason or special communication need that means they are unable to wear a face covering.
Thank you for your understanding and for helping to keep our patients and staff as safe as possible.
Visiting
For the latest guidance on who can visit and when, please go to our visiting times page.
Please do not visit if you:
- have respiratory symptoms/ COVID-19 symptoms,
- you have recently been in close contact with someone who has had COVID-19.
- You have vomited or had diarrhoea within the last 72 hours.
In our A&Es (Emergency Departments) only one person may accompany or visit a patient. When the number of patients in our A&Es is high, visitors will be asked to give up seats and space for patients.
In our maternity areas, visiting will return to a maximum of two per patient at any one time, excluding children.
No children should visit adult wards unless agreed in exceptional circumstances, for example end of life care.
In children’s areas, visiting will also return to a maximum of two per child.
Social distancing
We no longer require for social distancing in most of our healthcare settings. The exceptions will be clinics which see vulnerable patients – where they will be carrying out risk assessments.