COVID-19 General Information including visiting information for Bristol and Weston
Please use the sections above to find out the latest information
about visiting, outpatient appointments, maternity services, how to
share your experiences of our services during COVID-19, and how
share a message with your loved one in hospital.
The information on this page is correct as
of 31 March 2023.
Visiting
This guidance is subject to change at short notice so please
check this website for updates.
Before your visit
Please do not visit a patient in hospital if you feel unwell.
This includes symptoms of COVID-19, sickness, diarrhoea, fever,
sore throat or flu.
Symptoms of COVID-19, flu and common respiratory infections
include:
- Continuous cough
- High temperature, fever or chills
- Loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell
- Shortness of breath
- Unexplained tiredness, lack of energy
- Muscle aches or pains that are not due to exercise
- Not wanting to eat or not feeling hungry
- Headache that is unusual or longer lasting than normal
- Sore throat, stuffy or runny nose
- Diarrhoea, feeling sick or being sick
During your visit (face masks)
You will be required to wear a surgical face mask (unless
exempt) in some areas of our hospitals where stated. These areas
will be clearly signposted and surgical masks will be available at
the department entrance.
If you wish to wear a face mask in all areas of our hospitals,
please do so.
Visiting arrangements
Adult inpatients wards (excluding maternity)
- Maximum of two visitors per patient at any one time between
11am and 7pm. You will be required to wear a surgical face
mask (unless exempt) in some areas of our hospitals where stated.
Please let us know if you are exempt from wearing a face mask. The
Trust will endeavour to make reasonable adjustments, if
appropriate.
- This guidance will be applied with as much flexibility and
compassion as possible. Staff will consider each patient's needs on
an individual basis. Please contact the ward to discuss.
- We recognise that some patients need additional support to meet
their communication, health or social care needs. If you are in
attendance to support the needs of a patient as a carer or support
worker, you will be made to feel welcome and will not be counted as
a visitor. Where possible either the patient or their
representative should contact the ward or department in advance to
discuss, and to make sure that appropriate arrangements can be put
in place.
Maternity guidance
Visiting guidance for maternity service can be found on
the
St Michael's Hospital COVID-19 page.
Bristol Royal Hospital for Children
All inpatient wards (with the exception of Starlight
Ward) can have two parents/carers plus one child (sibling of the
patient) with each patient. Starlight Ward can have two
parents/carers with each patient.
For the children's emergency department (ED), Carousel
outpatient department, Rainforest outpatient department, Meadow
ward day case unit, Puzzlewood Clinical Investigations Unit (CIU)
and Ocean unit - one parent/carer can accompany a
child.
Any visitors aged 11 and over must wear a face
mask in inpatient ward areas, patient admission areas, and areas
with patients who are immunosuppressed. Please let us know if you
are exempt from wearing a face mask. The Trust will endeavour to
make reasonable adjustments, if appropriate.
Please speak to a member of staff if you feel unwell at all, at
any time.
Attending our emergency departments
You may bring one person with you if you need support.
Please wear a face mask in our Emergency Department unless you
are exempt from doing so, and use the hand gel provided. Please let
us know if you are exempt from wearing a face mask. The Trust will
endeavour to make reasonable adjustments, if appropriate.
Attending a hospital appointment
Hospital appointments are running as normal. Please don't call
to check that a booked appointment is going ahead. If anything
changes with your care, we will be in touch.
Individuals attending hospital for an appointment can be
accompanied by one other person.
- Please arrive no earlier than 15 minutes before your
appointment.
- Please leave the building promptly after your appointment.
