Visiting

To protect patients, staff and the community, patient visiting at Southport and Ormskirk hospital has been further restricted as of 2 October 2020.  This decision has not been taken lightly and we acknowledge the distress this may cause and will review this regularly to ensure that we are in line with both regional and national guidance.

Visiting will continue in the following specific circumstances:

• Patients who are at the end of their life – up to 2 visitors
• Women in maternity – 1 partner
• Children – 1 parent (parents can interchange)

If the above circumstances apply, each individual area will advise on arrangements for booking your visit.

Where possible please call wards after 2pm when the doctors’ rounds are complete and nursing/therapy staff will be in better position to update you and make any necessary arrangements.

For a summary of ward telephone numbers, please go either the Southport or Ormskirk hospital pages.

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

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

What alternative options are there to stay in contact with someone who is in hospital?

• We invite family and friends to  send a “Letter to Loved Ones” to patients while they are in hospital. These can include images and should be sent to soh-tr.lettertolovedones@nhs.net. We will print them off, put in a specially stamped envelope and deliver to the patient’s bedside. You can also send a letter by Royal Mail too. Please mark it “Letter to Loved Ones”
• We can facilitate pre-arranged video calls calls using an iPad
• 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