Under normal circumstances we welcome visitors to our Critical Care Unit. We understand that personal visits provide support and reassurance for patients and their families. We are proud of our patient and family-centred approach on our Critical Care Unit.
The COVID-19 pandemic is a difficult time for everyone. The situation has changed rapidly and dramatically affecting all of our lives. Our focus at this time must be to prevent the spread of the disease and to protect our patients, families and loved ones as well as our staff. To allow us to do this, we have had to make the difficult decision to change our visitor policy. We have followed guidance from NHS England and UCLH to develop a visiting policy for neurocritical care.
Why are there restrictions to visiting?
COVID-19 is an infectious disease. It spreads quickly and can be dangerous, especially for those with who are seriously ill or living with chronic conditions. A person with the disease can have mild symptoms, but risk infecting others without knowing.
Lowering the number of people that enter the hospital helps us keep our patients and the staff caring for them safe.
When can I visit?
Due to the increasing number of COVID-19 infections in the community, we have had to restrict visiting again. We now can only offer visits in exceptional circumstances.
How long will this visitor policy last?
We cannot predict how long this situation will last, but we will monitor progress and advice nationally and locally. We will review our visiting policy as the situation develops and keep you informed if it changes.
We are doing everything that we can to keep everyone safe – patients, staff and families. Nothing matters to us more.