Over the last two years restrictions on hospital visits have had a huge impact on patients and their loved ones. Although Covid-19 rules in most public settings such as in schools, shops, and restaurants have eased over the last few months rules on visiting patients in hospitals across Wales remain in place to ensure the health and safety of patients, service users ,and staff.
Although many Welsh health boards follow Welsh Government's guidance on general hospital visits a few have also noted different rules. Virtual visiting is encouraged by a few health boards while taking an LFT prior and upon arrival before your visit is encouraged by others and time slots may vary.
Here are the rules on visiting patients in hospital with every health board in Wales.
Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
Since January of this year Aneurin Bevan University Health Board operates through essential-only visiting. These changes however do not include paediatrics and neonates, where a maximum of two visitors per day is recommended.
Essential visits include:
- A birth partner supporting a woman during hospital visits and during labour.
- A person receiving end-of-life care and in their final hours.
- To support someone with a mental health issue, dementia, autism, or a learning disability where not being present would cause the patient to be distressed.
- To accompany a child who is required to attend hospital.
- In situations when someone is receiving information about life-changing illness or treatments.
All visitors are asked to provide evidence of a negative lateral flow test (LFT) result. To find out how you can order a lateral flow test in Wales click here.
Additionally they must wear a face mask (unless exempt) and adhere to physical distancing and hand hygiene requirements. Any visiting arrangements must be arranged with the ward in advance and any visitors attending the hospital without pre-arrangement will not be permitted entry.
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
With Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board all visiting is made through appointments. Visitors will also be required to take an individual risk assessment that should be completed both before and on arrival of an agreed visit for both exceptional and visiting arrangements. According to the health board this rule has been implemented in order to keep patients, staff, and visitors safe.
For all general visiting arrangements:
- All visitors will be required to show evidence of a negative lateral flow test (LFT).
- They must complete a screening questionnaire, which includes a temperature check before entry.
- Visitors are not permitted in areas where there are suspected or confirmed cases of Covid-19 (except in exceptional circumstances).
- All visitors must check with the hospital ward or department for visiting availability and times.
- Visiting remains restricted to one identified visitor per patient (except in exceptional circumstances).
- Visiting is limited to one hour at the discretion of the ward manager and some visits may need to be cut short or cancelled.
- Visits will be by appointment with the hospital ward or department directly and adhere to approved safe numbers for each specific area.
Exceptional circumstances for inpatient visiting:
- Patient receiving end-of-life care in the last days of life.
- A familiar carer, parent, guardian, supporter, or personal assistant to assist in care provision as agreed with ward or department.
- Both parents or guardians where the family bubble can be maintained in paediatric and neonatal wards or units.
- Patients may be accompanied where appropriate and it is necessary to assist their communication and/or to meet their health, emotional, religious, or spiritual care needs as agreed with ward or department.
Cardiff & Vale University Health Board
At Cardiff & Vale University Health Board all visits are by appointment only.
Reason for the request should meet the following guidance:
- End of life or last days of life – in these cases ward staff will contact you directly.
- Carer –you are the carer or the nominated representative.
- Learning disabilities (LD) – a patient with learning disabilities may need you as their carer or next of kin to share information about their individual needs and virtual visiting may not be appropriate.
- Other – for example where it is felt a visit from you may help the patient with rehabilitation, understanding of care or condition, or help with dietary concerns.
People can request a visit by completing the visiting form and sending it the patient experience team by email or post. One visitor can visit for the duration of the planned visit and the health board asks visitors to enter the hospital site on their own unless otherwise agreed. When visiting you must wear a face mask, use hand sanitiser, and maintain the two-metre social distance from patients, service users, staff, and other visitors at all times.
Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board
In February Cwm Taf Morgannwg eased its hospital visiting rules as a way to line with national guidance in Wales. All visits at Merthyr Tydfil, Bridgend, and Rhondda Cynon Taf hospitals must be prearranged with the relevant ward in advance. People are able to organise 'virtual visits' with their loved ones that can be arranged with the ward via the health board's hospital devices.
In order to arrange a hospital visit, however, you must:
- Get approval from the clinician or nurse in charge – arrangements may differ in different departments.
- Adhere to the two-metre social distancing rule as well as hand hygiene and infection control precautions on arriving and leaving the ward or department.
- Wear a face mask, especially if the visitor has underlying health needs. Those who are shielding are strongly discouraged from visiting – a medical mask must be worn if visiting is essential.
- Not have any symptoms of Covid-19 or be recovering from Covid-19 or been knowingly exposed to someone with Covid-19 in the past 14 days.
The health board recommends that anyone attending any outpatient appointment or A&E attendance at their sites must come alone. However if support is required one adult accompanying the patient will be allowed.
Hywel Dda University Health Board
Family, friends, and well-wishers can attend the health board's hospitals to visit patients on a limited basis with prior agreement of hospital staff. The changes mean that a pre-booked visit by one member of the same household can now be supported provided your visit has a clear purpose and is in the best interest of the patient. A visit will be arranged following a discussion between the patients and the ward sister.
Visiting will be in line with the following Welsh Government guidance:
- End of life – last days of life.
- Carer – you are the carer or the nominated representative.
- Learning disabilities (LD) – a patient with learning disabilities may need you as their carer or next of kin to share information about their individual needs and virtual visiting may not be appropriate.
- Other – for example where it is felt a visit from you may help the patient with rehabilitation, understanding of care or condition, or help with dietary concerns. The ward sister may agree visiting outside of this guidance in certain circumstances.
Visitors are asked to adhere to the following restrictions:
- Appointments must be pre-arranged and in advance with relevant ward or health professional.
- One daily visitor during a specified time slot for a period of 45 minutes unless there are specific circumstances that have been identified by the ward sister to increase the visit.
- Due to varying activities in the ward environments time slots may vary.
- Visitors must wear appropriate PPE (surgical face coverings) unless the visitor is a child aged under 11.
- The allocated visitor must remain as the only visitor during the admission period.
- There are no canteen facilities for relatives and relatives will be asked to stay within the bed area of the patient throughout the duration of the stay at a distance of two metres from patients, staff, and other visitors at all times.
- Essential support assistants (such as interpreters or essential carers) are not classed as visitors.
Powys Teaching Health Board
All visiting will be by appointment only and all visitors will require an individual risk assessment to be completed both in advance of and on arrival of an agreed visit for both exceptional and general visiting arrangements.
General visiting arrangements include:
- 'Virtual visiting' is available and can be arranged on request with the ward.
- All visitors will be required to take a lateral flow test prior to arrival and will be asked a number of normal screening questions regarding recent symptoms and possible exposure to Covid-19.
- Checking with the ward or department for visiting availability and times.
- Visiting remains restricted people visiting with a clear purpose limited to one identified visitor per patient (except in exceptional circumstances).
- Visiting is limited to one hour (except in exceptional circumstances) abd some visits may need to be cut short or cancelled.
Exceptional circumstances for inpatient visiting include:
- Patient receiving end-of-life care in the last days of life.
- A familiar carer, parent or guardian, supporter, or personal assistant to assist in care provision as agreed with ward or department.
- Patients may be accompanied where appropriate and it is necessary to assist their communication and/or to meet their health, emotional, religious, or spiritual care needs as agreed with ward/department.
Swansea University Bay Health Board
At Swansea University Bay Health Board visiting is only allowed if it is 'with a purpose'.
This rule includes:
- Paediatric wards – only one parent allowed to be present with their child on paediatric wards. Parents are allowed to swap every 24 hours.
- Patients who are in the last days of their life – up to two visitors at a time from the same household or extended household.
Patients with mental health needs, dementia, a learning disability, or a cognitive impairment where not having a visit would cause them distress – generally one visitor at a time and the frequency and duration of visits will be agreed on an individual basis by wards or department.
Patients who are parents or who are guardians or carers to children and young people – a child or young person can visit their parent, guardian or carer, along with one adult.
People who are in hospital for a longer time (usually seven days or more) or who may need additional help with communication or feeding – visits must be discussed and arranged in advanced.
If you do visit you must:
- Wear a face covering, keep a safe distance from others, and regularly sanitise your hands.
- Do not visit if you are ill, have any symptoms of Covid-19, have tested positive for Covid-19, or have been told to isolate by the Test, Trace, and Protect service.
Before you visit you are strongly encouraged to take a lateral flow test even if you don’t have any symptoms.
All visits, including their frequency and duration, must be arranged with the hospital in advance.
One hour per visit is considered standard. The wards will have a maximum number of visitors they can accommodate at one time. Visiting is usually between 1pm and 7pm on weekdays.
