1 November 2021

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals to further ease some visiting rules from 2nd November


From tomorrow (Tuesday 2nd November) some of the restriction on visiting at the Northern General, Hallamshire, Weston Park Cancer Centre and Jessop Wing will be eased which means more patients can benefit from having loved ones visit.

  • Patients on COVID wards will not be allowed visitors. This is because we need to keep the potential exposure to COVID-19 as low as possible to prevent spread of the virus or indeed take it onto wards which would then prevent patients from having their operation. Patients will be informed if the ward they are on allows visiting.
  • Critical care visiting and visiting someone whilst in A&E will be determined on an individual patient basis due to the space limitations to enable social distancing and potential spread of the virus. Staff in those departments will be able to advise patients and relatives if they are able to visit.
  • It is recommended that all other patients have only one visitor at a time, and no more than two (unless in exceptional circumstances.) Carers are not counted as one of the 2 visitors.
  • The two hour visiting time restriction is lifted and patients can have more than one visit per day.
  • Children under the age of 16 are not allowed to visit unless in exceptional circumstances.
  • Visitors must wash their hands on entry/exit
  • Visitors must wear a mask – masks can be provided if a visitor does not have one
  • It is strongly recommended that only double vaccinated people should visit and that for those eligible ideally they would also have had their booster.
  • Visitors should take a Lateral Flow Test prior to their visit and have a negative result (if visiting on more than a single occasion, the visitor should undertake twice weekly Lateral Flow Tests).
  • Visitors with symptoms of Covid/respiratory illness or diarrhoea and vomiting are not permitted to visit.
  • Patients will be asked not to stray from the bedspace of the person they are visiting unless absolutely necessary.

Jessop Wing visiting

  • Two birthing partners are now allowed to be present during labour and birth.
  • A birthing partner (and one other person or sibling/s where requested) can visit on the antenatal and postnatal wards between 8am and 8pm. There is no time limit to the visit.
  • Children are not permitted to visit unless they are siblings/step siblings.
  • A partner or a nominated support person can attend all scan appointments and antenatal appointments. Partners will be asked to wait outside antenatal clinic and Labour Ward Assessment Unit and will be called in at the appointment time to limit the number of people in our waiting rooms.
  • Two parents can visit the Neonatal Unit with negative COVID-19 PCR testing weekly.
  • All women, partners and visitors have to do a lateral flow test prior to attending and be negative
  • All women and visitors must wear a mask, socially distance, wash hands on entry and exit to Jessop Wing.

Professor Chris Morley, Chief Nurse at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Following careful consideration the decision has been taken to further adjust visiting restrictions for some patients. We are aware that we still have relatively high rates of infection in the community but also feel this has to be balanced with the importance of visiting for patients’ wellbeing. Unlike previously, the majority of people are double vaccinated which we know reduces the risk of transmission too. However, we will continue to monitor the situation and if necessary review visiting arrangements accordingly. To prevent this happening we are asking people to get vaccinated and follow the rules when visiting by wearing a mask, wash hands regularly and please do not attend, under any circumstances if you have Covid/respiratory illness or diarrhoea and vomiting.”



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