Visiting

We continue to restrict hospital visiting to protect patients, staff and the community from Covid-19 infection.

The Trust regularly reviews this decision, ensuring we are in line with both regional and national guidance. We will begin gradually easing restrictions when conditions allows.

However, some patients still need the support of friends and relatives. They are:

• Patients whose relatives need to be taught aspects of their care ahead of discharge
• Children and young people under the age of 18 who need the support of mum and dad, or their legal guardian
• Patients very close to the end of life
• The partners of mums-to-be
• Patients with dementia, a learning disability, autism or other similar complex condition where not having a familiar face present would cause them distress

Support visits to a general ward must be booked in advance and should be based on the needs and wishes of the patient. This can be discussed with the ward staff and individual arrangements made. At all times, visiting will be limited to one person, and the below precautions must be followed.

Separate arrangements are in place for visits to maternity and the children’s ward at Ormskirk hospital, and North West Regional Spinal Injuries Centre at Southport hospital. Please ask for advice from the local staff in each case.

You must wear a face-covering during your visit unless you have a documented medical exemption. You must also wear gloves and a disposable apron when visiting an inpatient. These are provided by the Trust.

All visitors should take a same day lateral flow test, regardless of vaccination status and be able to provide proof of a negative result. Test kits are available free from local pharmacies as well as online. Anyone testing positive will need to follow up with a PCR test a local testing centre.

On arrival at hospital, visitors’ temperatures will be checked and they will be asked about possible Covid symptoms. Anyone with a raised temperature or Covid symptoms will not be able to visit.

Please do not visit if:

• You are Covid-19 positive or have any Covid-19 symptoms including:
  • Fever / high temperature 37.8C or above
  • New continuous cough
  • Loss / change of sense of taste or smell
• You are isolating as a contact of someone who is Covid-19 positive
• You have been contacted by NHS Test and Trace to say you are a contact of a Covid-19 positive person
• You are shielding due to anticipated surgery
• There are any local or national lockdown restrictions in place in your postcode that would not support you visiting
• You have returned from a country with quarantine restrictions imposed by the British government

What alternatives are there to contacting someone in hospital?

• We can facilitate pre-arranged video calls calls using an iPad by contacting a member of staff on the appropriate ward.
• If your loved one has their own device and can accept video or telephone calls independently, then we encourage you to keep in touch this way also. We provide free patient wifi
• The Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) is a service that offers support, information and assistance to patients, relatives and visitors. The team can also provide help and advice if you have a concern or complaint that staff have not been able to resolve for you. Email soh-tr.pals@nhs.net

How can I protect myself and those I am visiting at the hospital?

• Please follow the guidance for hand hygiene and wearing a face mask on entering the Trust/clinical area/department
• Please apply disposable gloves, disposable apron on entering the area you are visiting and this should be removed under supervision at the end of your visit
• Hand hygiene must be performed on exiting ward area and please continue to wear a face mask until exiting the hospital
• Please perform hand hygiene after removal of face mask directly at exit
• Strict adherence to 2-metres social distancing rules must be followed at all times