In this section
Visiting
Visiting our hospitals
For the health and safety of our patients and our staff, we encourage all visitors to take a lateral flow test. Lateral flow kits are no longer available for free online (unless you are eligible. Eligibility criteria: you have a health condition which means you’re eligible for COVID-19 treatments; you’re going into hospital for treatment; you work in the NHS or in adult social care).
If you still want to get tested and you're not eligible for a free NHS test, you must pay for a Covid-19 test yourself. You can buy rapid lateral flow tests from some pharmacies and retailers, in person or online.
Anyone showing any symptoms of Covid-19 should not visit. This is important for infection prevention and control.
Visiting has returned to how it was before the pandemic for some wards and departments.
For High Risk Ward areas and departments visiting is still possible. However, please check with the nurse in charge of the ward or department before you come to the hospital.
The wards and departments that are considered high risk are:
- COVID wards
- Accident & Emergency departments (A&E)
- Intensive Care Units (ITU)
- High Risk Category patient (HRC) Wards (i.e. Ward 33 in York and Juniper Ward in Scarborough), and Ward 31 in York.
Masks
Masks are to be worn by visitors when visiting patients in the hospital due to the increase in Covid-19 cases, recently. Masks are to be worn on all wards and areas of the hospital.
It is important that you do not visit if you are showing any signs or symptoms of Covid-19, a high temperature, new persistent cough or loss/ change in smell or taste. Where you are a household contact we ask that you also refrain from visiting for the isolation period.
Visitors’ code
We use a Visitors' code to make it clear for visitors what they should do if friends and family are admitted to hospital. Please see a copy of the visitors' code here.
Visiting times
You can visit between 14:00 and 20:00 and there can be up to two visitors at the bedside at one time.
Many of the wards have protected meal times. This is to make sure patients can enjoy their meals undisturbed and to encourage patients to eat enough food to help with their recovery.
The Trust has signed up to Johns Campaign (John's Campaign (johnscampaign.org.uk)) - this means that if you are a relative of carer who is caring for a patient living with dementia you will be welcome to stay and visit your loved one for longer whilst they are in hospital to help with their care as required. Please speak to the nurse in charge for further information about how this can be facilitated for your loved one’s specific needs.
Children under the age of 12 will be discouraged from visiting unless they are the child or the grandchild of the patient.
When children visit it is recommended their visits are limited to 30 minutes.
They must remain under direct supervision from family members at all times. However, it is recognised that children might be in the position of being a young carer for a relative. In these circumstances they may visit unsupervised and stay for the length of normal visiting.
