COVID-19 is on the increase nationally and like all NHS trusts, Bradford Teaching Hospitals is seeing an increase of pressure on services. The Trust is doing everything possible to keep patients and visitors safe. We have reviewed our visiting guidelines and have made the decision to keep the following restrictions in place:
Inpatients in our hospitals for over 21 days
Visiting for inpatients who have been in our hospitals for more than 21 days is allowed for one hour by one dedicated visitor for two visits a week on most wards. Some wards will remain fully restricted to protect our patients and visitors. Clinical areas will contact visitors to organise these visits.
Please do not visit unless this has been agreed with the clinical area – every visitor will have to undergo a risk assessment.
Paediatric wards
Two parents or carers can swap in and out for visits/stays.
Labour Ward and Birth Centre
Birth partners can stay for the duration of labour. This person is not interchangeable. M3 and M4 patients can make one-hour visits at a pre-arranged times between 1-5pm, except on the day of discharge, from one dedicated person, the birth partner.
Prenatal scans
Women will be allowed to have one adult with them for the first dating ultrasound at around 12 weeks. This person must be the birthing partner or from the same household or bubble.
AED department supportive visits
One visitor will be allowed to be present where a patient is being treated in the resuscitation area or High Dependency Unit of the Accident and Emergency department.
The Trust will continue to support end-of-life visits, difficult conversation support, and support carers to attend where the patient needs physical or cognitive support – with restrictions in place on the length of visit and the number of visitors allowed. The Trust has put in place a number of resources to support family members unable to visit patients:
- Our Relatives’ Telephone Information Line take calls for some of our wards. Please contact the ward or relatives’ line to see if the clinical area in question is using this service. Please call 01274 272747 from 10:15am to 5:30pm
- Thinking of you is a dedicated email address for loved ones to send letters via email to our patients: ThinkingOfYou@bthft.nhs.uk
- Many wards have video calling in place and may be able to assist with video calls where there is no visiting
Please note: Visitors to Bradford Teaching Hospitals under exceptional circumstances and people attending outpatients’ appointments must now wear a face mask at all times to protect them and others from coronavirus. It is important masks and face coverings are worn safely.
Anyone showing any symptoms of coronavirus should not visit. If you are in a high risk category i.e. you have an underlying health condition that puts you at risk of COVID-19, you should also not visit. For more information on our current visiting policy, please click here.