Mask Guidance
Updated: 7 October 2024.
Due to rising cases of COVID-19 – and taking into consideration other seasonal infections including norovirus and flu – we have reintroduced optional face masks in the dispensers around our hospitals.
Staff, patients, and visitors are not required to wear a face mask unless clinically indicated or directed by the Infection Prevention Control (IPC) team - for example, in situations of increased incidence of infection or outbreak.
However, face masks are now available to be worn in all clinical areas if preferred due to an increase of seasonal viruses.
Those preferring to wear a face mask in any area of our hospitals will be supported to do so.
Patients with suspected or confirmed respiratory infection will continue to be asked to wear a face mask.
It is important for all patients and visitors to continue to practise good hand hygiene by washing your hands with soap and water regularly while visiting our hospitals.
Please adhere to the times and numbers of visitors allowed in our ward guidelines. Also, please follow guidance on preventing infection and using Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) if advised by staff.
Thank you for your continued support of these measures, which help to protect patients, visitors and our NHS.
Adult Inpatient visiting
Patients on our adult inpatient wards* are permitted two visitors at their bedside at a time between 3 and 7pm, seven days a week. While a patient may have different visitors during the day, a maximum of two visitors are allowed at the bedside at any one time. There is no limit on how long a visitor may stay with a patient between these hours.
Patients attending the outpatients department and the Emergency Department are permitted to be accompanied by a loved one, if they wish to do so.
Please note, a range of exceptions to the visiting policy are also in place which allow the following (immediate family members or carers only):
- Visiting a patient receiving end-of-life care in hospital
- Visiting is also permitted if you are supporting someone with a mental health issue such as dementia, a learning disability or autism where not being present would cause the patient to be distressed.
*Covid Surveillance and/or positive wards/areas do not permit visitors unless the visit falls under our exceptions to the visiting policy which can be found above.
Christmas / New Year 2024/25 visiting hours
Visiting hours will be extended around the Christmas and New Year 2024/25 bank holidays – with two more days added for the festive season.
Visiting hours for adult inpatients will be between 11am and 8pm on:
- Christmas Eve
- Christmas Day
- Boxing Day
- New Year’s Eve
- New Year’s Day
Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve have been added to the extended times for this year’s holiday season.
Please note that Paediatrics and NICU have specific visiting hours and conditions which will remain unchanged - see below.
Flowers and inside plants
Cut flowers in vases breed bacteria which can cause infection. Plants in pots can breed fungi (bacteria that cannot be seen) which can cause an infection. For this reason plants and cut flowers are not allowed on our wards.
Birthing partners
One birthing partner is able to be with you while you give birth from when:
- You attend to be induced
- You attend to have your elective caesarean section
- You attend in any stage of labour.
Once you are in established labour, a second birthing partner is able to be with you on the Midwifery Led Unit and Labour Ward Suite (this does not include elective caesarean sections or Triage appointments).
Maternity ward visiting
Visiting on the Maternity Ward (Ward 23) is between 10am-10pm, daily for one identified support person per woman.
Two additional visitors (including women's own children or siblings of the baby, three visitors in total including identified support person) are able to visit between 2:30pm-4:30pm.
We ask visitors to be patient while waiting to be allowed access to the Maternity Ward during visiting times.
Children are currently not permitted to attend maternity outpatients, triage, labour ward or the Midwifery Led Unit.
If you are a support person or visitor, we recommend taking a Lateral Flow Test on the same day of visiting, for every day you visit.
Ultrasound scans and appointments
We are able to accommodate one support person to all ultrasound scans and all maternity appointments.
Please note that children are currently not permitted to attend any appointments.
Ward 16 - One resident Parent/guardian can swap freely with an alternative parent/carer to be with their child.
Ward 17 - One resident parent/guardian resident at all times. A second parent/carer can be resident between 10am and 7pm. Two visitors (including siblings) are permitted to visit between 3.30 and 4.30pm on weekdays, 10.30-11.30am and 3.30-4.30pm on weekends.
Paediatric Emergency Department - one parent/guardian only
Elective surgery - One Parent/guardian resident.
NICU - Both parents/Guardians are permitted 24 hour access. Two visitors (including siblings) are permitted to visit between 5-6pm weekdays, 10.30-11.30am and 5-6pm on weekends.
Please note that the number of entrance points to Leighton Hospital have been restricted to the following:
- Main entrance
- Emergency Department entrance
- Outpatients entrance
- Maternity entrance.
All other entrance points are currently closed to patients/visitors.
