Visiting update

We continue to restrict patient visiting to the site, prioritising those who are visiting based on compassionate grounds. If you are visiting us on compassionate grounds, please contact the ward that your relative/loved one is staying on to ensure that they are aware of your visit.

We are continuing to maintain our strict covid and non-covid pathways and our staff and visitors must continue to wear the appropriate PPE, regularly wash hands/use hand gel and where possible stay socially distant. 

We remind patients to continue to attend their appointments where invited.

We urge people to take up their offer of a COVID-19 vaccination as soon as possible and follow latest Government advice on Covid-19 precautions.

Visitors to maternity should follow the guidance on our maternity visiting page (via the button above right).

Patients must only come to the hospital if there is a clinical need for you to be seen (i.e an appointment). If you need to enter the hospital, please use only the main front entrance unless your appointment letter indicates another entrance.  

A small welcome team of volunteers, based at the main entrance will stream all incoming patients and visitors so you get to where you need to be quickly, with the least risk. 

Attending your appointment

Do not come to the hospital if you or anyone in your household has any any symptoms of coronavirus (a new continuous cough, a high temperature or loss of/change to taste or smell), tested positive or are awaiting the results of a PCR test.

All patients and visitors will be expected to comply with existing social distancing and hand hygiene measures in addition to wearing face coverings while in the hospital setting. 

Anyone attending our hospital must do so on their own, if possible, with the following exceptions: 

-   One parent of patients/visitors under 18 years old

-   One carer for adult patients/visitor requiring assistance

-   One relative collecting a patient being discharged

-   To be with patients at the end of their life. The number of visitors at the bedside is limited to one close family contact or somebody important to the dying person. However, where it is possible to facilitate social distancing throughout a visit, a second additional visitor (including a child) may be permitted.

-   One birthing partner.  

Pairs or groups of people entering the hospital will be politely challenged by our welcome team.   Anyone accompanying the patient will be asked to wait in car or outside – keeping social distance. 

If you need to come to the hospital, we ask that you work with us to help keep our patients, staff, volunteers and visitors safe.   

At the entrance to the hospital or departments, all patients and visitors will be asked key health questions and will have their temperature taken.   

You may be asked to go home, self-isolate, arrange a test through test and trace and re-book your hospital appointment if your temperature, is raised or you meet certain health criteria.   

When you come to the hospital, it’s important that you:  

1. Wear a face mask or face covering at all times 
2. Maintain social distance from others at all times. 
3. Wash your hands with soap and water as regularly as possible (for at least 20 seconds) and using the alcohol hand gel available around the hospital  

Important information on the use of face coverings when coming to George Eliot hospital.

All patients attending appointments will need to wear a face covering when you come to hospital as a visitor or outpatient.

People infected with COVID-19 can have very mild or no respiratory symptoms (asymptomatic) and can transmit the virus to others without being aware of it.

We are following the recommendations from the World Health Organisation, and are introduced measures to keep visitors, patients, and staff safe.

What does this mean for me?

We can all play a role in reducing the spread of coronavirus and keeping our hospitals safe. If you are coming to hospital as a visitor or for planned outpatient care, it is important that you wear a face covering at all times. This is for your safety and the safety of other patients and staff.

Face coverings can be homemade. Advice on how to wear and make one can be found on the government website. Face coverings worn as part of religious beliefs or cultural practice are acceptable, but they must cover your mouth and nose.

Please bring a face covering with you whenever possible, but if you do not have one available when you come to hospital, we will provide you with one.

If you are currently shielding and have been provided with a surgical face mask, please wear it. 

We understand that for some people, wearing a face covering may be difficult due to physical or mental health conditions. Please let us know if this is the case and we will make arrangements including timed appointments and being seen immediately on arrival.

If you are a deaf or hearing impaired, our staff have communication options to help us communicate with you including writing things down and virtual British Sign Language.  

Additional Guidance for being with patients at end of life

We understand that you will want to be by the side of your loved one if they are at the end of their life.   The number of visitors at the bedside is limited to one close family contact or somebody important to the dying person. However, where it is possible to facilitate social distancing throughout a visit, a second additional visitor (including a child) may be permitted. 

If permission for visiting cannot be given, family members will be given the option of maintaining contact with their loved one via video calls using ward iPads.

Members of extended family are also respectfully requested to nominate a family member as a single point of contact to call ward areas directly for an update and then update the rest of the family. Please ask a member of staff for more details. 

There are other ways that you can keep in touch for example you can use our Letters to Loved Ones service to send letters, photographs or messages to loved ones on the wards. Email LoveLetters@geh.nhs.uk 

Guidance for people coming to the Emergency Department (ED)

·       Patients should attend alone wherever possible

·       If a carer is required, please be advised that it may not be possible to stay with the patient at all times.  

Please inform our staff if you or any of your household have shown symptoms of coronavirus including

- A high temperature

- A new, continuous cough

- Loss of taste or smell

Or if you have you had contact with a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19.

Please be aware that you will be asked these questions when you arrive and throughout your stay. We will also take your temperature regularly, and you will be screened (swabs taken) on admission as routine.

Patients having planned surgical procedures will be notified of requirements for pre-screening, leading up to admission.

If your hospital stay is longer than seven days, we will screen you again and at any time, should you have symptoms, as above.

Guidance for people coming to Children’s services

Only one parent/main carer may stay with the patient for the duration of their stay   

No siblings or children under 18 years may attend with the patient   

Visiting hours for George Eliot Hospital Maternity Services

Please note that surgical facemasks should be worn when visiting all George Eliot Hospital locations unless medically exempt.

We would encourage all women and birth partners to regularly access lateral flow testing within the community as recommended by the government. You should not attend if you have any symptoms of Covid-19 unless an emergency appointment or in labour.

Women and birth partners will be asked to show a recent lateral flow test (within the last 24 hours) when they attend the hospital. We will accept photos of the lateral flow test, or screen shots of upload of the result onto the government website.

Please don’t worry if you have not been able to complete a lateral flow test at home. We will be able to conduct a risk assessment for you and your support person.

Please do not attend the unit if you have any signs or symptoms of COVID-19

If you wish to have a lateral flow test when you are here, we will be able to facilitate this for you.

We are sorry but children are still unable to visit the maternity unit. 

This guidance is subject to change in line with local and national guidance.

Scans Appointments and Antenatal Clinic Appointments

WE have introduced a phased return of birth partners attending maternity appointments. All patients and visitors attending within the unit will be screened and temperature checked for COVID-19. Birth partners who are symptomatic for COVID-19 will be asked to self-isolate in accordance with government guidance.

This will commence with partners attending all scan appointments and Antenatal Clinic appointments. One nominated birth partner will be able to support you through your pregnancy journey, this person should ideally be from the same household or within your support bubble.

In the near future we are looking to increase this to include Maternity Assessment Unit and triage attendances, please be patient whilst we work through this process; continue to watch out for future updates over the next few weeks.

All birth partners visiting the unit must strictly adhere to the wearing of a surgical face mask at all times, unless medically exempt.

Unfortunately the scan and clinic waiting rooms are not large enough to support the required 2m social distancing for women and birth partners combined. To support this we are requesting for birth partners to wait downstairs in the maternity foyer area whilst women are able to be seated in the waiting rooms.

Women will be asked to contact their birth partner by mobile phone when called into their appointment. Please ensure your mobile is available and switched on. Please note there is a limit to the time available if birth partners are delayed.

Delivery Suite

One birth partner can support mums-to-be throughout labour and delivery.  

Drayton Ward  

Visiting times are between 2-7pm for 1 birth partner only. Women admitted for Induction of labour can have their birth partner attend with them the morning of their induction.

Any women in early labour will continue to be supported to have their birth partner in attendance to support them during this time. 

All birth partners visiting the unit must strictly adhere to the wearing of a surgical face mask at all times, unless medically exempt, and details must be provided for NHS track and trace. 

Your birth partner will be required to remain in a designated floor space area at the bedside throughout their time on the ward.

Guidance for people visiting the Special Care Baby Unit 

We appreciate that you may find the following necessary actions difficult; however they have been put into place to protect your baby. 

Only parents are currently able to attend the Unit. No other family members, siblings or friends are able to visit at this time.

One parent is able to be with their baby for an unrestricted period of time each day.

The second parent is able to be present during an allocated 4 hour slot. These time slots are:

• 8am-12pm 
  

•  

  12pm-4pm 
  

•  

  4pm-8pm 

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Please let nursing staff know which slot you would like each day before leaving. Nurses will monitor this to ensure fairness, but also to maintain social distancing between cot-spaces. At the end of the time period, the second parent will need to leave the unit.   Please minimise the number of times you leave the unit.  

When twins are admitted, each parent may be with one baby each day, with no changeover between baby and parent  

Below is a list of the ways relatives and friends can keep in touch

Delivering items to patients on the wards

We will do everything we can to get essential items to patients. If you have items for a patient on the ward please bring them into the main hospital reception. 

It would be really helpful if you could bring items between 9 and 4pm Monday to Friday as there are more volunteers available to help distribute items during these hours. 

You will be directed to our volunteer hub (opposite WH Smith) where the volunteers will sterilise items that can be sterilised, label the items and deliver to the patient for you.

Guidance for relatives:

• Where possible please bring wipe-able items.
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• Please only bring in essential items. These can include toiletries, a mobile phone, phone charger or clothes. You are welcome to include a letter to your loved one in the bag.

Please do not pack any valuables. Any belongings brought in will not be the responsibility of the hospital.

Unless absolutely necessary, only one relative or friend should come onto the site to bring the bag.

• Items will be taken to your loved one within 24 hours. Unfortunately we will not be able to tell you when they have received the bag