Visiting times and information

We have eased some of our current restrictions around visiting to enable you to see loved ones and friends safely while they are being cared for in our hospitals. Please see information on visiting below and the measures we need you to take to protect yourself, our patients and our staff. Thank you for your support and co-operation.

Please note that all visitors MUST have received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and have taken a COVID-19 home test before visiting. We care for some of the sickest and most vulnerable people in our community and these restriction are in place to minimise the risk of COVID-19 to our patients and staff.

If you have any questions, or are medically unable to receive the COVID-19 vaccine please speak to the nurse in charge.

Adult inpatient wards

• Each patient will be allowed one named visitor per day (subject to appointment availability).
• All visits must be booked in advance via our wards. You can contact our switchboards on 0191 5656256 (Sunderland Royal) and 0191 4041110 (South Tyneside District Hospital) and ask to be put through to the ward, or direct lines to wards can be found here.
• Please note that we are not allowing visitors on our COVID-19 wards. In exceptional circumstances, such as end of life visiting should be discussed with the nurse in charge.
• Children (under 16 years of age) are not permitted on the wards at this time.

Children’s wards and neonatal

• One parent is allowed to stay with a child on our children’s wards. There are no time restrictions.
• Children (siblings etc) are not permitted on the wards at this time.
• Both parents will have unrestricted visiting for babies in the high dependency unit on our neonatal ward. 
• One parent is allowed unrestricted access to visit babies on the low dependency unit on our neonatal unit (two parents with twins). Both parents can have access together at set times and parents can swap over at any time, but this should be arranged in advance with the ward.

Emergency Departments

• Please attend our Emergency Departments alone. The only exception to this is if you require a carer to accompany you.
• One parent / carer can accompany children under the age of 18 years old.
• You must wear a face mask and keep a social distance in our waiting rooms. Please follow this at all times. The only exemptions will apply to those with genuine medical conditions that prevent them from wearing a mask and children under 11.

Emergency Assessment Units

• Any carers present at time of admission to support transfer may stay on the Emergency Admissions Unit for 15 mins only. 
• All other visiting will be virtual. The Emergency Assessment Units have the technology to support this. Please call the unit to arrange your virtual visit.
• Any exceptional visiting requirements can be discussed with the nurse in charge.

Maternity

• Mums-to-be will be able to bring one person with them to their antenatal appointments. However, due to social distancing requirements within our maternity waiting rooms, support partners will need to wait outside of our maternity buildings and wait to be called in for the actual appointment. They must also wear a facemask throughout the appointment. This is for the safety of our pregnant women and babies.
• One birthing partner is allowed through labour and delivery. Support partners cannot leave the department and return.
• One named visitor is allowed on our antenatal and postnatal wards and in the delivery suite between 6-8pm. (This must be arranged with the ward in advance). No children (up to the age of 16) are permitted on the wards at this time. 

Outpatient appointments

• Patients should continue to come alone to all outpatient appointments. The only exception to this is where a carer is required.
• One parent / carer can accompany children under the age of 18 years old at their appointment.
• You must wear a face mask and keep a social distance in our waiting rooms at all times. The only exemptions will apply to those with genuine medical conditions that prevent them from wearing a mask and children under 11.

Exceptional circumstances

• We recognise there will be exceptional circumstances (for example patients who have dementia, delirium, learning disabilities and those patients receiving end of life care). Visiting options should be discussed with the nurse in charge.

Important information for all visitors (PLEASE READ)

• You must not visit if you feel unwell in any way or if anyone in your household has tested positive for COVID-19. Please speak to the ward staff if you have any questions. 
• You must have received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine before you visit (unless you are medically unable to do so). We also ask that you take a COVID-19 test at home before coming in to visit to protect our patients and staff.
• You must book a time slot with the ward prior to visiting. You can do this by contacting the ward directly. Please do not just turn up as you will be turned away.
• We will ask you for some personal details on your arrival (name, address, telephone number). This is for test and trace purposes and must be provided. To view our privacy notice and how we use your information click here.
• You must wear a face covering or face mask when entering our Trust buildings. If you do not have one, you can get one from the hygiene stations at all entrances.
• Please do not arrive before your allocated appointment time to allow for social distancing. Please keep a social distance from other visitors outside of our wards and use the buzzer when you arrive to let us know you are here.
• You must wear personal protective equipment (PPE) in our ward areas and as directed by our staff. This could be apron, face mask and gloves. If you fail to do this you will not be allowed on to the ward.
• Please wash or sanitise your hands thoroughly when entering and exiting all buildings and again when entering and exiting our wards and clinic areas.
• You will need to keep your face mask on until you leave the building where you should safely dispose of them in the dedicated bins provided.
• If you fail to comply with any of the above you will not be allowed on to our wards.

Please note that our restaurants are currently closed to the public.

Information for Carers / Professional Support Workers

• We recognise that in some situations carers may need to visit for longer periods of time and outside of normal visiting hours. Involving carers in a patient’s care is always encouraged so please speak to the nurse in charge who can arrange for you to provide additional support. Carers should be part of the same household or support the patient in a professional capacity and should have received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine (unless medically unable to receive the vaccine). 

Important information for Carers

• You must not visit if you feel unwell in any way or if anyone in your household has tested positive for COVID-19. Please speak to the ward staff if you have any questions.
• We will ask you for some personal details on your arrival (name, address, telephone number). This is for test and trace purposes and must be provided. To view our privacy notice and how we use your information click here.
• You must wear a face covering or face mask when entering our Trust buildings. If you do not have one, you can get one from the hygiene stations at all entrances.
• You must wear personal protective equipment (PPE) in our ward areas and as directed by our staff. This could be apron, face mask and gloves. If you fail to do this you will not be allowed on to the ward.
• Please wash or sanitise your hands thoroughly when entering and exiting all buildings and again when entering and exiting our wards and clinic areas.
• You will need to keep your face mask on until your leave the building where you should safely dispose of them in the dedicated bins provided.