Help us prevent the spread of infection
We would like to remind everyone planning to visit the hospital that flu and other illnesses are currently on the rise.
If you are experiencing flu-like symptoms, such as a high temperature, we strongly urge you to stay at home and avoid contact with others. This is essential to prevent the spread of infections and to protect our most vulnerable patients.
Anyone experiencing diarrhoea or vomiting must refrain from visiting the hospital. Please wait at least 48 hours after your symptoms have fully cleared before coming to the hospital.
Guidance on wearing facemasks
If you need to visit the hospital and are symptomatic with a respiratory illness or experiencing vomiting, please wear a mask, if possible, to help protect others. We also ask that anyone accompanying you wear a mask.
Patients, please wear a mask (unless you are exempt or are unable to):
- When attending emergency or urgent care areas, including Emergency Departments, Children’s Emergency Department, Cardiac and Stroke Receiving Unit (CSRU), maternity triage, Urgent Treatment Centres (UTC) and Ward 15.
- If you have symptoms of a respiratory illness, e.g. COVID, Flu or other respiratory-borne diseases such as TB or measles.
- If you are in a setting where patients are at high risk of infection due to immunosuppression, e.g., oncology/haematology. Patients in these areas may be encouraged to wear a facemask by staff following a local risk assessment.
- In outpatient or community settings if you have respiratory symptoms .
Visitors will be requested to wear face masks if they are attending the emergency or urgent care areas (listed above), visiting immunocompromised patients or as advised by our infection prevention and control team (for example, visiting patients with COVID-19 or on outbreak wards), or if it is their preference.
Guidance on handwashing
All visitors are reminded to maintain excellent hand hygiene. Washing your hands thoroughly or using hand sanitizer upon arrival can significantly reduce the risk of spreading infections.
For full and current information please see our infection and control guidance page.
The NHS relies on your cooperation to keep our patients, staff, and visitors safe during this challenging time. By following this advice, you can help minimize the spread of infections and reduce the strain on healthcare services.
Your support is invaluable in ensuring that our hospital environment remains safe. Thank you for your understanding and continued cooperation.