As a healthcare provider, we have taken a cautious approach to infection prevention and control measures to help protect our patients and our staff over the last two years, including our visiting policy. Whilst we are welcoming visiting back, this will be in a very careful and managed way to meet patient need while maintaining a safe environment for all.
Please note that the Infection Prevention and Control Team may on occasions recommend that visiting arrangements are changed for short periods of time. In these instances, staff will inform patients so they can advise their visitors and those that have booked will be alerted by the schedulers.
The current guidance for specific areas is listed below:
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Inpatient wards - (Craigavon Area, Daisy Hill, Lurgan & South Tyrone)
- We will allow two visitors at a time for patients in our adult inpatient wards, between the hours of 2pm and 4pm and then again between 6.30pm and 8.30pm.
- In the event of overcrowding of multiple occupancy areas, visitors may be asked to rotate.
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Maternity Units
Delivery Suite
- Two birthing partners can be identified to support a woman throughout the induction of labour and labour process. With 1 birth partner at any time being with the woman.
- Any woman who is having a planned caesarean section is able to have her birth partner with her from admission to hospital.
Maternity Ward
- Birthing partners are able to visit between 10am – 10pm
- We will allow two visitors at a time for patients in our adult inpatient wards, between the hours of 2pm and 4pm and then again between 6.30pm and 8.30pm.
- In the event of overcrowding of multiple occupancy areas, visitors may be asked to rotate.
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Intensive Care (Craigavon Area Hospital)
- Visiting arrangements should be discussed with the nurse in charge.
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Paediatric Inpatient wards
- Parents and carers* can visit at any time.
- Due to the high risk of RSV and other seasonal respiratory illnesses, children are only allowed to visit in exceptional circumstances.
- (*Those undertaking parenting responsibilities in absence of those with parental responsibility.)
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Bluestone
- We will allow two visitors at a time for patients in our adult inpatient wards, between the hours of 2pm and 4pm and then again between 6.30pm and 8.30pm.
- In the event of overcrowding of multiple occupancy areas, visitors may be asked to rotate.
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Emergency Departments
- Our Emergency Departments continue to experience severe congestion due to the number of patients attending and those awaiting beds in the hospital.
- We will prioritise the presence of a visitor or carer to accompany those with additional needs; other visitors may be asked to limit time in the department so we can ensure adequate distancing and space to treat patients.
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Outpatient appointments
- Patients can be accompanied to their appointments if they wish.