Visitors during COVID-19 at NALHN
The safety and wellbeing of people in our hospitals and facilities during COVID-19 is of paramount importance. To help protect our patients, visitors, staff, volunteers, and community from COVID-19 we are continually monitoring the current situation and have recently made the following changes to our visitor guidelines.
Our hospital entrances are regularly staffed by personnel who will assist you with your visit. Please answer any questions they might ask and follow directions to don masks and observe hand hygiene.
Adult inpatients
There is no restriction on the number of visitors allowed per day during established visiting hours across all general wards.
One visitor is allowed for patients attending an Emergency Department or Outpatients.
Intensive Care: 2 visitors per day can attend
Where appropriate and safe, an exemption for additional visitors may be granted by the health care team of the clinical area responsible for the patient’s care or treatment.
Palliative, end of life or critically unwell patients or patients who would benefit from visitation
There are no restrictions on the number of visitors per day.
Paediatrics
Paediatric inpatients: There are no restrictions on the number of visitors per day during established visiting hours
Maternity
For all maternity services visitor guidelines please visit COVID-19 Visitor Guidelines at NALHN for maternity services.
Confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients
2 visitors per day can visit a patient who is suspected of having COVID or is COVID positive. Visitors will be required to wear additional PPE during their visit. Clinical staff will assist visitors in accessing the required PPE.
Requests for additional visitors will be assessed on an individual basis, with exemptions obtained from the patient’s healthcare team. Visitors must adhere to the instruction provided by the health care team to ensure patient and visitor safety is maintained.
Visiting hours
Visitors play an important part in any patient’s hospital stay and are welcome in line with our visitor guidelines.
See the Lyell McEwin Hospital and the Modbury Hospital visitor pages for visiting hours.
During your visit
Anyone entering a NALHN site will be required to:
- Perform hand hygiene on entry
- Wear a mask at all times in all clinical spaces such as in Emergency Departments, Outpatient departments, wards and clinic rooms
- Visitors do not need to wear a mask in public areas such as foyers, cafes, lifts etc.
- Wear additional Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) In high-risk settings with vulnerable patients. This will be available at ward level.
- Maintain 1.5 metres physical distancing where possible.