Visiting to remain suspended at Wexham Park Hospital

Visiting will continue to be suspended at Wexham Park Hospital due to the number of coronavirus patients who are being treated.

The Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust announced a ban on most visitors to its hospitals on New Year’s Day to try and curb the spread of the Omicron variant.

The trust, which runs Wexham Park, Heatherwood and Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey, said it is reviewing its visitor guidance but restrictions will remain in place for now.

A statement said: “While there are indications that the number of positive cases in our hospitals appear to be levelling off, we continue to treat almost 200 COVID-positive patients and our teams are working extremely hard in a challenging environment to provide the best care possible for patients.

“We understand how difficult this is for families, friends and patients, however keeping patients and staff safe must be our priority.

“While visiting is suspended, ward staff will do everything possible to provide regular updates to families.”

Visiting will continue to be allowed in some cases. These include:

Patients in Emergency Department: 

• One relative can accompany a patient into majors or resus
• One parent/carer can accompany a child patient

Children's Wards

• One well parent/carer can accompany their child. Another parent/carer can swap if needed
• Visiting to neonatal wards is restricted to two well parents/carers. No other family members are allowed except in circumstances agreed with a nurse in charge such as end of life care
• One well and COVID-19 negative parent can attend with their child at any time in Paediatric Outpatients and Ambulatory Care Units. Parents can change over at any time of day.
• Where a COVID-19 positive child is admitted and their primary carers are also COVID-19 positive but well, and alternative primary care cannot be given to the child, the parent/carer will be allowed to be present but must remain in the isolation room at all times

Maternity

• One well birthing partner can accompany a woman in labour
• The nominated birth partner can accompany THE patient to the antenatal ward, while in labour and the same birthing partner for the postnatal ward

Families and friends can stay in contact by arranging a virtual visit via a video call or by using the trust's 'message to a loved one' service to send in photos, notes or letters which can be printed and delivered to the ward. 

Visit https://www.fhft.nhs.uk/your-visit/visiting-times/ for more details.