We encourage and support people to stay connected to those who matter most in their lives while they are in hospital.
This page provides information about current visiting arrangements, guidance and safety measures everyone needs to follow.
Person Centred Visiting
Person Centred Visiting means we will work together with patients, family members and staff so that care is in line with the following core principles:
- Welcoming – We welcome and encourage the involvement of the people who matter to patients.
- Patient Led – We are guided by patients: when the people who matter will visit, how they would like them involved in their care, and note when they want to rest.
- Partnership – We work in partnership with the people who matter to patients.
- Flexibility – We have no set visiting times.
- Respect – We respect people’s individual needs and act on an individual basis to ensure the safety, privacy and dignity of all patients. This means there may be times when we need to ask people to leave a clinical area temporarily.
Person Centred Visiting is in place across NHSGGC.
Person Centred Visiting Frequently Asked Questions
When can I visit?
Please speak to the person you are visiting, and the ward, about when would be good for you to visit.
Eating is a social occasion – family, friends and carers are welcome to visit at mealtimes to offer encouragement.
How many people can visit?
In most circumstances we ask that there are no more than 2 visitors at a time (these visitors can change). This is to help make the environment as restful as possible, and to minimise the risk of infection. There may be times when it would be appropriate for more than two people to visit at a time. The nurse in charge will be happy to discuss this with you.
Can I phone the ward to find out how a relative or friend is doing?
Yes. If possible, it helps enormously if one family member is identified to be the key hospital contact and then takes responsibility to share information with other family and friends as appropriate.
Please note there is a limit to what information we can give over the phone, and who we can give this information to.
What safety measures do I need to follow?
- Please use the hand sanitizing gel provided when coming into and leaving the ward.
- Please do not visit if you are unwell. For example, if you have cold or flu, vomiting or diarrhoea, or an upset stomach.
- Please use the toilets for the public (not for patients or staff) where you can.
- Visiting may take place at a bedside or communal area. In all instances chairs provided for visiting should be used. If visiting at a bedside, you should avoid sitting on the bed as this can spread infection.
- If your relative/friend is being isolated, or if the ward is temporarily closed, please follow the advice provided by staff as there may be additional safety measures to follow.
What visiting arrangements are in place in outpatient areas or emergency departments?
Person Centred Visiting is in place across NHSGGC, including outpatient areas and emergency departments.
Please see the rest of this page for information about Person Centred Visiting.
My family member or friend is particularly vulnerable to the risk of infection; what visiting arrangements are in place for them?
Where there is a particularly high risk of infection, patients will continue to have visiting arrangements discussed as part of their individual risk assessments. Ward and department staff will be happy to discuss these with you.
My family member or friend has an infection; can I visit them?
If your relative/friend is being isolated, please follow the advice provided by staff, as there may be additional safety measures to follow.
A ward is closed due to an outbreak of an infection; what visiting arrangements are in place there?
If the ward is temporarily closed, please follow the advice provided by staff, as there may be additional safety measures to follow.
Can I visit during mealtimes?
Please speak to the person you are visiting, and the ward, about when would be good for you to visit.
Eating is a social occasion – family, friends and carers are welcome to visit at mealtimes to offer encouragement.
Are children welcome?
Children are welcome; they do need to be supervised at all times.
If I am not able to visit, are there other ways that I can stay in touch?
We are offering ‘virtual visiting’ (video calls) for all patients. All wards have iPads specially set up to make video calls. This lets you see and talk to the people who matter to you. If you have your own mobile phone, tablet or laptop we can also help you to do this using your equipment if you are not able to do this yourself.