Visiting Hours At Daisy Hill Hospital – Are you planning to visit a loved one at Daisy Hill Hospital? Understanding the visiting hours at Daisy Hill Hospital can be crucial, especially when trying to navigate the best time to show your support. Hospital visits can be overwhelming, but knowing when and how to visit ensures a smoother experience for both patients and visitors.
Do you know what the specific guidelines are for visiting patients in different departments? From the general wards to maternity units, visiting hours at Daisy Hill Hospital vary depending on the patient’s condition and the area of the hospital they are in. These rules are in place to protect both the patient and visitors.
In light of ongoing health concerns, including COVID-19, Daisy Hill Hospital’s visiting hours have been adjusted to accommodate safety protocols. These measures aim to balance the need for family support with patient safety and public health guidelines.
This article will provide you with all the necessary details on visiting times, special circumstances for palliative care, and what to expect when you visit the emergency department. Stay informed and make your visit a meaningful one.
Standard Visiting Hours at Daisy Hill Hospital
Daisy Hill Hospital aims to provide flexible and compassionate visiting hours, ensuring that patients receive the support they need from family and friends while also maintaining a restful environment conducive to recovery.
The visiting schedule varies depending on the ward, with specific guidelines for general wards, maternity, and neonatal units.
Visiting Hours for General Wards
For visitors of patients in the general wards at Daisy Hill Hospital, visiting hours typically fall between 2 pm and 8 pm. These hours are designed to offer a balance between allowing ample time for visits and ensuring patients have enough rest and recovery time.
Key details for visitors to the general wards include:
- Number of visitors: Up to two nominated visitors are permitted per patient.
- Visit duration: Each visit is restricted to 1 hour per day to minimize disruptions and allow medical staff to provide care.
- Safety protocols: All visitors must adhere to the hospital’s COVID-19 guidelines, including wearing face coverings and maintaining social distancing. Hand sanitiser stations are available at entry points to ensure cleanliness.
These policies help maintain a secure and healing environment for all patients, while still offering family members a chance to provide emotional support during hospital stays.
Visiting Hours for Maternity and Neonatal Units
Visiting hours for maternity and neonatal units at Daisy Hill Hospital are more flexible to accommodate the unique needs of new mothers and their babies.
Partners or designated support persons are encouraged to be present during key moments, including labour and postnatal recovery.
Key visiting arrangements for the maternity and neonatal units include:
- Partners’ access: Partners or a nominated person may attend early pregnancy appointments, labour, and postnatal care, offering essential support to new mothers.
- Neonatal visits: Parents of newborns in the neonatal unit are given extended visiting privileges, allowing them to spend more time with their babies. This ensures bonding and essential care during the early days of life.
- Special conditions: Visiting rules may be adapted for exceptional cases, such as premature births or medical complications, to ensure that the family can be close by.
Source: en.wikipedia.org
In both the general and maternity wards, Daisy Hill Hospital strives to support both the well-being of patients and the needs of their loved ones through compassionate and flexible visiting arrangements.
COVID-19 Safety Measures for Visitors
Daisy Hill Hospital continues to enforce strict safety measures to protect patients, staff, and visitors during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. These precautions are in place to reduce the risk of infection while allowing loved ones to visit when permitted.
Face Mask and PPE Requirements
All visitors entering Daisy Hill Hospital are required to wear a face mask throughout their visit. This measure is designed to prevent the spread of respiratory droplets, which is a primary mode of transmission for COVID-19.
Masks must be worn at all times, regardless of the visitor’s vaccination status or perceived health condition. In addition, the hospital provides hand sanitiser stations at every entry point, and visitors are strongly encouraged to sanitise their hands upon entering and exiting the building.
To further enhance safety, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as gloves, gowns, and face shields may be required in certain high-risk areas, such as when visiting immunocompromised patients or those in critical care units.
These measures help protect both visitors and staff from potential cross-contamination, especially in areas where patients may be particularly vulnerable.
Virtual Visiting Options
For those unable to visit in person due to COVID-19 restrictions or health concerns, Daisy Hill Hospital offers virtual visiting as a practical alternative. Virtual visits can be arranged by contacting the hospital’s designated virtual visitation team.
This option allows patients to stay connected with family and friends through video calls, providing much-needed emotional support during hospital stays.
Virtual visiting is especially important for individuals who are in quarantine, those in high-risk groups, or during times when the hospital enforces stricter visitation rules, such as during local COVID-19 surges.
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This service is available daily between 9 am and 5 pm, ensuring flexibility for both patients and their loved ones.
Special Visiting Circumstances
Special circumstances often require more flexible and compassionate visiting policies at Daisy Hill Hospital, particularly when patients are facing end-of-life care or when visitors may need additional support.
These exceptions aim to ensure that patients and their loved ones can remain connected during critical moments while maintaining a safe environment for all.
End-of-Life and Palliative Care Visits
Daisy Hill Hospital recognises the importance of family presence during end-of-life situations. When patients are in palliative care, visiting restrictions are eased to allow families to spend more time with their loved ones.
In such circumstances, two visitors are typically allowed, with extended visiting hours arranged based on the patient’s condition.
Key points include:
- Number of visitors: Generally, two close family members or designated visitors may visit at the same time.
- Visiting duration: There are no strict time limits, allowing family members to stay longer, especially during critical moments.
- Emotional and practical support: The hospital’s palliative care team provides psychological, spiritual, and social support to both patients and their families. This can include chaplain services, social workers, and specialised nursing staff.
These compassionate policies ensure that patients do not face their final days alone and give families the opportunity to provide support during difficult times.
Special Assistance for Visitors
Daisy Hill Hospital also offers assistance for visitors who may have special needs, ensuring that everyone has a safe and accessible experience. Visitors with disabilities or mobility issues can request support ahead of time or upon arrival.
Key services include:
- Portering assistance: Staff are available to help visitors with disabilities navigate the hospital, ensuring they can visit their loved ones without difficulty.
- Accessible facilities: The hospital is equipped with accessible entrances, lifts, and restrooms for visitors with mobility impairments.
- Emotional support for visitors: For families facing the stress of a loved one’s illness, Daisy Hill offers guidance through social workers and bereavement services to help them cope with emotional and practical challenges.
These services are crucial for ensuring that all visitors, regardless of their needs, can access the hospital and spend time with their loved ones.
Guidelines for Visitors with Children
Bringing children to visit loved ones in a hospital can be an emotional experience, but at Daisy Hill Hospital, guidelines are in place to ensure the safety and well-being of both young visitors and patients.
Understanding these guidelines will help make visits smoother and less stressful for families.
Age Restrictions and Conditions
At Daisy Hill Hospital, strict age restrictions are in place for young visitors, largely due to concerns about infection control and the emotional impact of the hospital environment on children. In general:
- Children under the age of 16 are not permitted to visit patients unless there are exceptional circumstances, such as end-of-life situations.
- For cases where children are allowed to visit, the hospital requires prior approval from the Nurse in Charge.
- During visits, children must be closely supervised at all times by an accompanying adult to ensure that they follow the hospital’s rules and minimise disruption to other patients.
These restrictions are crucial for maintaining a calm and safe environment within the hospital, especially for vulnerable patients.
Preparing Children for Hospital Visits
When children are permitted to visit, it’s important to prepare them for what they may see and experience at the hospital. Helping children understand the situation can reduce anxiety and create a more positive experience for both the child and the patient. Here are a few tips:
- Explain the environment: Let children know what a hospital looks like and why their loved one is there. Use simple, age-appropriate language to explain that the patient is being cared for by doctors and nurses.
- Set expectations: Prepare them for medical equipment they might see, such as IV drips or oxygen masks, which can seem frightening to younger visitors.
- Keep the visit brief: Hospital visits can be overwhelming for children, so it’s best to keep the visit short and calm.
- Encourage questions: Let children ask questions before and after the visit to help them process the experience. This will make the visit less intimidating and more engaging for them.
By taking the time to prepare children properly, visits can become a source of comfort and support rather than stress.
Emergency Department and Out-of-Hours Visits
Daisy Hill Hospital’s Emergency Department is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to ensure that patients receive immediate care in urgent or life-threatening situations.
For non-emergency cases requiring urgent attention, patients are encouraged to follow specific protocols to ensure efficient service.
Emergency Department Visiting Hours
Visiting the Emergency Department at Daisy Hill Hospital is allowed 24/7, but specific rules are in place to ensure patient safety and effective treatment.
Only two visitors are typically allowed per patient at a time, and the duration of visits may be limited based on the patient’s condition and the severity of other cases being handled in the department.
During busy periods, or when treating highly contagious patients, visitation might be restricted entirely. It is always a good idea to check with the hospital staff before planning a visit to the Emergency Department.
Procedures for Out-of-Hours Visits
For non-life-threatening conditions outside regular working hours, Daisy Hill Hospital operates a Phone First service. This system allows patients to call ahead and describe their symptoms before visiting the Emergency Department.
This service is available Monday to Friday from 9 am to 9 pm, and on weekends and public holidays from 10 am to 6 pm.
The Phone First service is particularly useful for injuries or illnesses that require urgent treatment but are not life-threatening. Patients can avoid unnecessary waiting times by receiving guidance over the phone or scheduling their visit appropriately.
By following these guidelines, patients and visitors can ensure they receive the appropriate level of care without overwhelming emergency services during peak times.
Visiting loved ones at Daisy Hill Hospital can provide crucial support during their recovery, but it’s important to stay informed about the specific visiting hours and guidelines in place. Understanding these rules ensures a smoother visit while prioritising patient care and safety.
For more detailed information on the hospital’s visiting policies, be sure to check with the hospital directly. Planning your visit accordingly will help create a positive and stress-free experience for both you and your loved ones.