Advice for hospital visitors

How can you help us fight infection in the hospital environment?
Do not visit the hospital if:

• You feel unwell.
• You have a cough or a cold in the last 48 hours (two days).
• You have had diarrhoea and/or vomiting in the last 72 hours (three days).

When visiting please:

• Do not use patient toilets.
• Do not sit on patients’ beds.
• Do not share food with patients or sit at the patient’s bedside whilst eating.

Hand washing advice for visitors

Please use the sinks at the entrance to the wards or the nearest sink to the entrance to wash your hands with soap and water. If you are visiting someone who is being barrier nursed, please wash your hands in the sink in the side room when entering and leaving their room.

Why should you wash your hands?

The most common way germs are spread is by them being carried on people’s hands. It prevents any germs being brought into the hospital ward environment from outside the hospital and being passed on to the patients or contaminating the clinical environment. Washing hands properly with soap and water can help protect not only patients but you, your family and others.

Advice for patients

If you are a patient or you are going to be a patient and you have worries or concerns about any infection control issues. Please speak to ward/clinic staff and if they are unable to help please ask them to contact the Infection Control Team.