Limited visitation to all patients at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) resumes effective Tuesday, April 5.
Over the past two years, visits were temporarily suspended to “minimise potential exposure of patients and staff to COVID-19”.
Management of the QEH, in a statement today, said that visitation to Wards ending in even numbers (A2, A6, B4, B6, B8, C4, C6 and C10) will be facilitated on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays between noon and 1 p.m., or 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. daily.
Similarly, visiting will resume on Wards ending in odd numbers (A1, A3, A5, B5, B7, C5, and C9), on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, between noon and 1 p.m., or 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.
In both instances, only one person of the patient’s choice will be allowed to visit for no more than 30 minutes during one of the above mentioned visiting times.
Exceptions to the limited visitation schedule above will continue to be permitted for patients being cared for in the hospital’s intensive care units (Surgical Intensive Care Unit, Medical Intensive Care Unit, Paediatric Intensive Care Unit and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit), Labour Ward, Maternity Wards (B1, B2, and B3), Paediatric Wards (C7 and C8), and the Oncology Ward C12. These exceptions pertain to:
- Patients receiving palliative (end of life) care.
- Pregnant patients who are in active labour.
- Very ill patients who will be identified by the Department of Nursing Services.
- Paediatric patients. A parent or guardian will be allowed to stay with these patients around the clock.
Visitation to these categories of patients will continue to be facilitated between noon and 1 p.m., or 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. daily; and remains limited to a single visitor per patient for the duration of each patient’s hospital stay.
As it relates to the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Department, patients are reminded that a parent, guardian, relative, caregiver or custodian will be allowed with the following category of patients only:
- minors under the age of 18
- elderly patients who are at high risk of falling, are disoriented, in need of assistance with regular daily activities such as walking, using the bathroom and eating
- patients receiving palliative (end of life) care
- pregnant patients who are in active labour
- those in the custody of police or prison officers
All other patients in the AED will be allowed two 15-minute visits daily by a single visitor for the duration of their stay in the department. Time spent during these visits should be used to drop off personal care items, check on the status of the patient, and receive updates from medical staff.
All visitors will be provided with a special pass which must be presented, along with a valid form of ID, to security upon arrival.
Additionally, children under the age of 16 will not be permitted to visit. However, in cases of emergency, special permission to visit may be obtained through the Nursing Office by calling 436-6450 Ext 6282 or 6283. (PR)
