Our Wards
Important announcement: restricted visiting – updated 24 June 2020
The Trust restricted visiting at both University Hospital Lewisham and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in March 2020 due to coronavirus. We have now revised our visiting arrangements in line with new national guidance.
Visiting restrictions remain in place for most patients. However in the best interests of our patients, visiting will now be permitted for a limited number of patients. Please see the detail below.
Our priority continues to be to protect our patients and staff so we it is very important that you do not come to hospital if you have the any of the following symptoms:
- High temperature of over 37.8 degrees – you feel hot to touch on your chest or back
- A new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours. (If you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual.)
- Loss or change to your sense of smell or taste.
Please stay at home. Do not travel. Check the latest guidance at: www.nhs.uk/coronavirus.
Visitors will now be permitted for the following patients only:
- Patients who are critically ill or nearing the end of their life, and who are Covid negative –, a maximum of two named family members or those identified as important to them may visit
- End of life care patients who are Covid positive – can be visited by only one named family member visiting wearing full PPE. Visiting times need to be agreed with the nurse in charge for the ward
- Patients who have dementia, a learning disability or autism – may have one visitor if the visitor not being present would cause the patient to be distressed
- Adult patients who require assistance – for example because of a disability may be visited by one named carer
- Women during labour or a caesarean section – may be accompanied by one birthing partner
- Children under 16 on our inpatient wards – two named adults (usually parents) may visit, although not at the same time. Please contact the ward or department directly to discuss specific arrangements.
- Babies in the Neonatal unit both parents may visit.
What to do when you visit
Face covering/masks – When entering all hospitals you must now wear a face covering and/or mask. If you haven’t brought one with you, our security guards at our main entrances can give you a single use mask. If you are unable to do this, unfortunately you will not be able to visit the patient and will be asked to leave.
Handwashing: When visiting someone in hospital, please wash your hands for 20 seconds using soap and water when entering and leaving the bay or use the alcohol gel provided.
Social distancing: Please keep a safe distance from other patients, visitors and staff where possible. You may need to follow one-way systems to help us all stay apart. If social distancing cannot be maintained in our ward areas, you may be asked to visit at another time.
We understand how difficult it is for our patients, relatives and carers at this time. Thank you for working with us to prioritise the safety of our patients, visitors and staff.
Keeping in touch with patients if you are not allowed to visit
For all other patients you can keep in touch by video / phone call rather than coming to visit. Our inpatient wards have access to phones and iPads to support this. Please call the nurse in charge to arrange making contact. You can also send a free patient postcard greeting.