1. Please do not visit your friend or relative in hospital if you have had symptoms of diarrhoea and/or vomiting within the last 48 hours or if you have symptoms of cold or flu.
    This helps to reduce the risk of cross infection to our hospital patients.
  2. Plan your visit responsibly – always adhere to ward visiting times.
    These are in place to ensure that essential patient care and ward cleaning can take place.
  3. Please gel your hands at the bed space where your friend or relative is and repeat this process when leaving.
    This helps to prevent the possible spreading of germs to our vulnerable patients.
  4. If your friend or relative is being isolated you do not need to wear gloves and aprons unless you are helping with their personal care. This does not apply if the infection is norovirus.
    In Norovirus we advise that all personnel visiting the wards wear aprons and gloves.
  5. Please do not sit on the beds – these are strictly for patients use only.
    This is to prevent any contamination from your clothing being transferred to the patient environment and vice versa.
  6. Please do not bring in unnecessary items for your friend or relative – they can cause clutter which makes it very difficult for cleaning staff to access all surfaces that may harbour dust and infection.
    Clutter makes it very difficult for cleaning staff to access all surfaces that may harbour dust and infection also in an emergency situation it could hinder emergency access.
  7. Please do not touch your friend or relative’s wound or any other device such as drips and catheters.
    These areas/devices are high risk for infection so should not be handled unnecessarily.
  8. If you have any concerns about the cleanliness of the hospital environment, please report these to the nurse or sister in charge as soon as possible so that prompt action can be taken.
  9. Please try to avoid bringing in fresh flowers if at all possible.
    Flower water can grow bacteria which can be harmful to certain groups of patients if not changed regularly. In an emergency situation they can be hazardous.
  10. If you have any concerns about infection prevention and control issues please ask to speak to a member of the team or they can be contacted on 01256 486774 or 01962 824483.