Hospital Visiting Times

The West Suffolk Hospital has standardised it’s visiting times in response to comments from patients and visitors, recommendations regarding infection control and other national initiatives. It aims to balance the beneficial effects of patients spending time with relatives, carers and friends with the patients’ need for rest and the need for staff to manage the ward care safely and efficiently, with high standards of infection control.

See the visiting hours| page for more information.

Visitors Guidelines

All visitors are asked to help the hospital staff to help those in our care by following the following guidelines:

• Visit only at the set visiting times.
• Do not visit if you are unwell: you should be free of symptoms for 72 hours before coming to the ward. This includes coughs, colds, vomiting and diarrhoea.
• Avoid bringing children under 12 years of age, unless it is felt to be in the patient’s best interests and special permission is given by the ward manager.  In the maternity unit child visitors are restricted to sisters and brothers of the babies.
• Wash your hands or use the hand gel before entering and leaving the ward.
• Wash and dry your hands after visiting the toilet.
• Do not sit on the bed or use the patients’ toilet. There are visitors toilets in the main thoroughfares.  Chairs are provided for the use of visitors.
• Do not share your relative’s toiletries, tissues etc or items of hospital equipment with other patients unless it has been approved by a member of the nursing staff.
• Do not touch the patient’s wound, or any medical devices or equipment.
• Adhere to the number of visitors allowed. This is normally two people at any one time. Remember that some patients are more ill than others and whilst the person you are visiting may well enjoy a lively noisy group, the person in the next bed may need peace and quiet.
• Do not visit for long periods, patients often tire very quickly.
• Respect other people’s privacy.
• Remember to switch off your mobile phone.
• Cameras (including mobile phone cameras) and camcorders may not be used by visitors in the ward areas. The exception is Maternity unit where special procedures apply.
• Visitors are reminded that all Trust premises, including the grounds, are non smoking areas.
• Drinking alcohol is not allowed on Trust premises.
• The Trust operates a zero tolerance policy relating to any kind of verbal or physical abuse and visitors may be asked to leave if their behaviour causes disturbance to other patients or staff.