Visiting Our Patients

We understand how important it is to our patients to be supported by their loved ones whilst in our care. We are committed to ensuring that visiting is enabled wherever possible in our hospitals. 

This section provides details of our visiting guidelines and specific requirements in place to ensure the safety and well-being of our patients and visitors. We are committed to maintaining a welcoming environment while prioritising the health of all individuals within our care.

If you have any questions or concerns, or need further assistance please visit our Contact Page to identify who you need to speak to and how to contact them. Our team of dedicated staff and volunteers are also always available to help, so please also feel free to speak with them.

We also have a dedicated patient information for page for People with disabilities, and a page with Information for carers.

To help keep our patients, visitors and staff safe, please take extra care if you're feeling unwell. We advise that if you have a cold or have had diarrhoea and / or vomiting in the previous 48 hours, please do not enter our hospitals. 

Alternatively if you have symptoms such as:

  • a high temperature or chills
  • a new, continuous or dry cough
  • an aching body or muscles
  • tummy pain
  • a sore throat
  • shortness of breath
  • a loss or change in your sense of smell or taste

Please seek medical advice before coming to the hospital. You can use  111.nhs.uk  for guidance and support to help you get the right care quickly.

If you're planning to visit someone in our care, please stay home until you are fully well. This helps protect patients, many of whom are particularly vulnerable to infection, and supports our teams.

Thank you for helping us keep our community safe.

Visiting Inpatients, or Overnight Patients

If somebody you know has been been referred to hospital for an operation or test and needs to stay overnight, they are being treated as an inpatient. Please see the guidelines below for visiting inpatients.

All Adult inpatient wards have visiting times between 11am-8pm (unless otherwise stated). This includes during mealtimes, where possible, to ensure supported mealtimes.

  • We ask that on 2 visitors are allowed at a time, and that you report to the nurse's desk first, so we are aware of your arrival.
  • Please do not visit if you are feeling unwell or have any virus symptoms (increased temperature, diarrhoea, vomiting) and wash your hands on entering our hospitals, and when entering and leaving clinical/ward areas.
  • Please be aware that during ward rounds, drug rounds or essential procedures, visitors may be asked to leave the bay or bedside temporarily to prioritise the safety, privacy and dignity
  • If there any additional visiting requirements or needs, please speak to the Ward Manager/Nurse In Charge in the first instance who will be able to help.

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End of Life Patients

Two visitors are permitted (at a time) for end of life patients with no time limit. Other visiting is permitted - please speak to the Ward Manager for advice.

Please see the Palliative Care page for more information.

Children's Services

Visiting children on Amazon and Holly Ward

  • We welcome 1 resident parent/carer at all times with the availability of an overnight stay for 1 parent or carer.
  • We welcome any other visitors and siblings between 8am-8pm.
  • We ask for there to be no more than 2 visitors at a time.

Please see the Children's Services page for more information

Critical Care- Visitor Information

  • We welcome visitors between 11am-3pm, there is a break between 3pm-4pm with visiting reopening from 4pm-8pm.
  • We ask that there are only 2 visitors per bed.
  • We can adjust times for families, please speak to our Nurse in Charge who will be able to help.

Emergency Department

  • Within our emergency departments, one visitor per person presenting at our emergency department is allowed at all times.
  • Due to the nature of the area you may be asked to step out of the area so that essential care can be delivered.
  • We also ask that visitors check with the department before entering, to ensure it is safe, suitable and secure for all.

Clinical Observation Decision Unit (CODU) and Acute Assessment Unit (AAU) Hinchingbrooke Medical Assessment Unit (MAU) and Medical Short Stay Unit (MSSU)- Peterborough

  • Visitors are welcome on CODU/AAU (Hinchingbrooke) and MSSU/MAU (Peterborough) between the times of 11am and 8pm.
  • We ask that only 1 visitor is allowed per patient and that upon your arrival please report to the nurses station.
  • Please be aware there is limited space on the units and we may ask visitors to give up their seat or temporarily wait elsewhere. 

For more information about our emergency departments, please visit Urgent and Emergency Care.

Maternity

Labour Ward and Birth Centre

  • You can be accompanied by two birth partners to support you for the duration of your time here

Maternity Wards

  • Birth partners are welcome to join our patients throughout their stay with us, including overnight if you prefer.   
  • A further 2 adults, along with any siblings of baby are welcome to visit between 8am-8pm.

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) 

  • Partners and parents are welcome any time of the day.
  • We welcome further visits from loved ones between 8am-2pm and 4pm-8pm, accompanied by baby’s parent.

Please visit Our Maternity Services pages to find specific maternity visiting information.

Outpatients

If a patient has an appointment in a hospital or clinic but is not staying with us overnight, they are being treated as an outpatient or a day patient.

  • Patients attending our outpatient’s department and assessment areas can be accompanied by 1 adult if needed, this can be a family member, friend or carer. 
  • Please ensure we are aware that you will have someone supporting you during your appointment.  
  • Due to limited space in our waiting areas, you may be asked to give up your seat or to temporarily wait elsewhere.

Antenatal Day Services and Maternity Clinic/Community Appointments

You can be accompanied by one person to support you, should you need a further support person to be with you, please contact your community midwife to organise an individualised plan

Daisy Ward— Hinchingbrooke

  • Visitors are welcomed between 11am-7:30pm.
  • We ask that only 2 visitors are allowed per patient.

For more information, please visit our Outpatients - Patient Information page.