Visiting patients in hospital
You are now required to wear a face covering when visiting our NHS sites.
Friends or relatives visiting any patients will also be required to wear a face mask, if they are requested to do so by the clinical team in the area that they are visiting.
Patients with respiratory symptoms who attend the Emergency Department and those admitted with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 are encouraged to wear a face mask if you are able to and can be offered one on arrival.
We encourage patients who are at high risk of infection due to immunosuppression (e.g. oncology/haematology patients) to wear a face mask if you feel comfortable doing so.
As an NHS Trust providing care to hundreds of thousands of people in Croydon, it is our priority to keep our patients and our staff as safe as possible.
As a result of an increasing number of cases of Norovirus in both the hospital and our local community, we will be reducing the Trust’s visiting hours in order to protect patients currently receiving care.
Wherever possible, we would encourage family and friends to contact their loved ones when in hospital by telephone or video call instead.
If you are planning to visit a patient, please be aware that until further notice, the following visiting arrangements will apply at Croydon University Hospital:
Affected wards
In ward areas with affected patients, visiting will be restricted until further notice. However, our clinical staff will always do their best to accommodate visits to patients who are critically ill or nearing the end of their life. In these circumstances, visiting should be discussed with the nurse in charge.
Other adult inpatient area
Each patient may have one visitor only and this will need to be one consistent visitor throughout the patient’s hospital stay. Ward leaders will use their discretion in certain cases
Paediatric patients (children)
One parent or guardian will be able to stay with their child overnight while in hospital. Visiting times for parents and guardians who are not staying overnight will be between 2-4pm and 6pm-8pm only.
Neonatal (Special Care Baby Unit)
For any babies receiving care in our neonatal unit, two parents or guardians are permitted to visit their child at all times, together or separately.
Maternity (Labour Ward, Lucina Birth Centre)
Women are welcome to bring their birthing partners to stay with them at all times during their labour
Infection prevention and control guidance
If you do need to visit friends and family in hospital, you will need to:
- Wash your hands: You must wash your hands, regularly with soap and water or the hand gel provided, especially before and after you leave a ward
- Ensure you are well: Do not visit hospitals or your GP if you have symptoms of norovirus, including a sudden onset of diarrhoea and/or vomiting. You should drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration and if symptoms worsen, call NHS 111 or your GP for advice.
- Take a break: If you have had diarrhoea or vomiting you should stay at home for at least 48 hours after your symptoms have stopped before coming to the hospital, to reduce the risk of passing the virus to others.
Current visiting arrangements
The following visiting arrangements apply at Croydon University Hospital:
Visiting adults in hospital:
- Each patient can have two identified, consistent visitors at their bedside at any one time.
- Visiting times permitted are between 2pm – 4pm and 6pm - 8pm.
Visiting children in hospital
All children will need the support of a parent or guardian during their hospital stay. With this in mind, our visiting guidance is as follows:
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Parents or gaurdians will be allowed to stay with their child, including one consistent visitor overnight in line with our pre-COVID policy. In addition, women can continue to bring a partner or other adult with them to antenatal scans and appointments.
- Between the visiting hours of 2 – 4pm and 6 – 8pm each patient may have another additional, consistent visitor.
Visiting our Croydon Elective Centre in Croydon University Hospital
From 9 June 2022, patients will now be allowed one visitor. Visitors attending the Croydon Elective Centre, including those visiting patients receiving pre or post-operative care in our Coulsdon and Queens 1 wards will also be asked to wear a face mask to continue to protect our patients.
Friends or relatives visiting any patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 will also be required to wear a face mask and in other areas, if they are requested to do so by the clinical team in the area that they are visiting.
Visiting palliative care patients
We will continue to make concessions for patients that are nearing the end of life to ensure that we are supporting them and their friends and relatives as much as possible during upsetting and difficult times. This must be discussed and agreed with ward leaders.
We are continuing to plan ahead to pre-empt whatever new guidance may come next and we will continue to keep you updated here at our webinars and day-to-day discussions with ward leaders.
Maternity care
Antenatal scan appointments:
Women are able to bring a partner or other adult with them to antenatal scan and appointments. Some important measures are in place to help ensure this happens as safely as possible for you and your family.
In times of high activity, support partners may be asked to leave waiting areas and wait outside until their partner is called in for their appointment.
Partner attendance with women in labour:
Women in labour are welcome to bring their birthing partner to stay with them at all times as their consistent visitor.
Mother and baby are permitted one consistent visitor throughout their postnatal stay in hospital.
Neonatal Unit
- For any of our premature or special care babies, both parents / support partners are permitted to visit their child together at all times.
- Parents or guardians will need to wear the necessary Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as guided by our clinical staff.
- Other visitors are not permitted on the unit at this time.
During all of these visits, families will still need to maintain Infection, prevention and control measures that meet current guidance.
Patients may also benefit from emotional and spiritual support during this time. We have a multi-faith chaplaincy team that is on hand for this, so please get in contact with them.
Arranging virtual visits:
All of our inpatient wards are equipped with digital technology to allow us to support virtual visits through video calling. This enables patients to stay in touch with friends and relatives alongside those who can visit in person. Please liaise with staff on the ward to arrange this.
Further information
If you have any questions, please ask a member of our staff. For further information, please contact PALS on ch-tr.pals@nhs.net or 020 8401 3210 so that they can support you.
