The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital will be running a three-month trial on expanded visiting times from 8am to 8pm from 23 December.
It is part of a package of measures to improve the service to patients, carers and families which also includes a visitors’ charter and posters on each ward with contact details for the ward leader and matron.
NNUH Chief Nurse Rachael Cocker said: “More flexibility on visiting times will benefit patients and their families and make it easier for us to partner with them in meeting their needs and delivering a good experience.
“These measures will make it more straightforward for patients and families to ask questions and resolve concerns quickly, improving their experience of hospital care.”
A new Hospital Visitors’ Charter sets out the expectations of visitors to ensure that the system works smoothly and patient safety is maintained.
The charter includes a commitment from staff to be respectful, welcoming, care for each patient as an individual, keep families informed and provide a restful and clean environment.
The expectation of visitors is that they will keep to the limit of two people per bedside, respect patient privacy during ward rounds, avoid interrupting nurses during drug rounds, ask the ward manager before bringing children to visit, and avoid visiting if they have cold or flu like symptoms or have had diarrhoea or sickness in the last 48 hours.
For more information, go to www.nnuh.nhs.uk
