Visiting

Isolation

Some children will be required to be nursed in single side rooms, due to a number of reasons:

• children who have a lower immune system making it easier for them to pick up infection
• young babies before having immunisations
• diarrhoea and vomiting
• meningitis
• infectious illnesses

Side rooms cannot be requested.

Children that are nursed in single side rooms should not access the activity room or other areas of the ward without checking with a nurse first. Play staff will be able to fetch toys and activities to your child’s room.

Visitors including children must also remain in the side room to prevent the spread of infection. Check with your nurse before arranging visitors as with some infectious illnesses it is best not to have visitors. Preventing infection Patients and visitors have an important part to play in helping us stop infections that can spread in hospitals such as MRSA, C Diff and others. These are called healthcare associated infections.

Here’s how you and your visitors can help:

• use hand gels on coming into and going out of the ward
• keep your hands and body clean
• always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after using the toilet, commode or bedpan
• wash your hands before and after you eat
• bring in your own toiletries and try not to borrow these from other patients

All staff should wash their hands or use hand gel hands prior to undertaking examinations or procedures.

If any of your friends and family are unwell please ask them to stay at home and not visit you in hospital to prevent the spread of infection. They should be free of symptoms for 48 hours before visiting you.