Working Together for our Patients

As part of the continued drive to tackle infection and put the needs of patients first, the Royal Surrey County Hospital will be launching its new visiting times and Visitors’ Charter on Monday 25th February.
 
Visiting hours will still be between 2.30 and 8pm, but there will be a break between 4.30 and 6pm to allow patients to eat their evening meal without any interruptions and to allow patients to rest.  This move will also reduce cross infection and allow staff to carry out patient observations and care in a more private and dignified way. Visitors who do wish to help their relatives when dinner is served can arrange this with the nurse in charge.
 
The new charter has been developed with the Patient and Public Involvement Forum and also includes the following requests for visitors:

• We ask that no more than two visitors visit a patient at a time
• Please do not bring children under 10 years without prior discussion with the nurse in charge. It is not recommended to bring babies under one year old into the hospital environment
• Please ensure children are supervised at all times
• Please clean your hands with the alcohol gel available outside every ward before and after visiting a patient
• Please adhere to any requests regarding hand cleaning and side room notices
• Please do not bring flowers into hospital

Staff at the Royal Surrey are also now following the Department of Health’s national dress code guidance and all staff who treat patients are now ‘bare below the elbows’.
      
Chief Executive Nick Moberly explains:
      
“We have made some real progress on tackling infection at the Royal Surrey, which has been recognised by the Department of Health, but there is still much we can do to reduce the rates further and maximise patient safety.  In line with national guidelines, all staff who treat patients or work in clinical areas have adopted a new dress code and are ‘bare below the elbows’.  This means that staff can thoroughly wash their hands between patients and keep any clothing out of the area of examination, which is a vital part of preventing the spread of infection. “
      
All non-uniformed staff now either wear short sleeved clothes or roll up their sleeves, remove all watches and jewellery bar a single wedding band and tie long hair back.          

1. Posters and signs will be put up around the hospital to explain the new visiting times. The exclusions to the new visiting times are Paediatrics, Special Care Baby Unit and Maternity. In all other areas visitors can ask the nurse in charge of the ward about exceptions being made to the visiting times.
 
2. For more information please contact Lisa Ward, Head of Communications and Marketing Tel: 01483 408337