As part of our person-centred approach to visiting, from Monday, 10th March 2025 our recommended visiting times for adult inpatient areas will be extended to run from 10:00 to 20:00.

Colleagues should support patients to receive in-person visits or be accompanied to appointments by the person of their choice. They should involve patients and their carers, or people who are important to them, to understand who they wish to be visited by, and when. This is also part of the CQC’s Regulation 9A: Visiting and accompanying in care homes, hospitals and hospices

Key information and changes:

All of the information and forms have been added to the The Visiting and virtual support for patients and their loved ones - CHFT Intranet pages

• From Monday, 10th March 2025 our recommended visiting times for adult inpatient areas will be extended to run from 10:00 to 20:00. If a patient wishes to receive a visit outside of these times, we should support this wherever possible
• Up to two visitors for each patient (in adult inpatient areas) at the bedside are recommended at any one time, but more visitors should be accommodated with visits away from the bedside such as in the day room, restaurant or gardens if clinically appropriate
• Some clinical areas have specific visiting arrangements – these can be found on the intranet pages 
• When a situation arises and an in-person visit is not possible at all, alternative options should be discussed to make a reasonable adjustment. If a visit cannot be arranged, colleagues are required to complete the Exceptional Circumstances form - the link is on the intranet and also sits with the new policy (see below)
• Visitors may be asked to step out by ward staff from time to time to enable patient care to take place
• A new In-Person Visiting and Accompanying to Appointments Policy has been added to the Policies and Documents Library, along with the Exceptional Circumstances form

Sharing feedback or any questions?

We would like to hear colleague feedback about the changes to the visiting policy. Please email Patient.Experience@cht.nhs.uk with your thoughts.

The Visiting and virtual support for patients and their loved ones - CHFT Intranet pages have been updated with the information.