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Last Updated: 26 August 2026

An update on visiting at Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals

Visiting is no longer restricted to two hours, and visiting is no longer required to be booked by telephone. Please ensure that you visit during the normal ward visiting times. Please note that no more than two people should visit a patient at any given time.

More information and exceptions to visiting times.

Visiting Hours

Please note that normal visiting hours are 2pm – 8pm.

• Visiting hours for Birch Acute Cardiac Unit (BACU) are 3-4:30pm and 6-8pm only. Only 2 visitors at a time and no children below 12 years old.
• Visiting in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is permitted from 1pm, with a recommended two hour slot (this is flexible). Please contact the unit to agree visiting as appropriate.
• If you are visiting a patient on Chestnut ward, please continue to ring the ward prior to your visit to arrange. Only 2 visitors at a time and no children below 12 years old.
• In Maternity, please note that siblings are permitted to visit but no other children.

Please note that no more than two people should visit a patient at any given time.

Our vision is to be one of the best healthcare Trusts in the country.

One of our key objectives is to achieve the highest possible quality of care and treatment for our patients.

In this section, you can find out more about our care and support services as well as assistance for your visit.

Central to our vision is to provide high quality care for everyone. With the recent publication of the second Francis Report looking into the failings in care at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, we are once again reminded of the responsibility we carry on behalf of our patients and the importance of working in a values-led, open and safe culture. As you might expect, we have spent time with staff reflecting on the findings of this landmark report, working together to assure ourselves that something on that scale could never happen here. From the Board to the front line we continue to actively encourage, discuss and collect feedback using what we hear to make the right improvements for patients. And with the introduction of the new Friends and Family Test from April, we look forward to having an even richer source of feedback down to ward level.

We have been particularly encouraged with our results from the national patient survey, which show good improvements for the third year running, especially in how patients feel about nursing care. Given that the quality of nursing care has also been in the spotlight following the Francis Report, it is particularly reassuring for our patients and their families to know that our nurses are doing a good job.

We have also been working hard to improve the experience of patients who come to our hospitals as an emergency. With the help of the Department of Health’s Emergency Care Intensive Support Team, we have put in place a number of changes to help the flow of patients through our hospitals. Nationally this winter has seen hospitals up and down the country struggle to maintain the four hour waiting target. Within this context we are particularly encouraged that our performance has improved and that we met this important quality target for most of the financial year.

Martha's Rule

Martha's Rule provides access to an urgent clinical review when concerns about a patient's deterioration have not been fully addressed after speaking with the clinical team caring for them. The initiative is designed to strengthen patient safety by ensuring concerns are listened to, assessed promptly and acted upon where appropriate.

• Visit our Martha's Rule section for more details.

Update to Infection Prevention and Control Guidance (February 2026)

Stepping Down of Universal Mask Wearing in the Emergency Department (ED)

Following the recent reinstatement of surgical face mask in Emergency Department (ED), we are pleased to confirm that as of Thursday 12 February it will no longer be mandatory for staff, patients, or visitors to wear face masks in the Emergency Department.

Face masks will continue to be available at our main receptions and in clinical areas for anyone who prefers to wear one.

Please continue to respect those who prefer to keep wearing masks.

We ask everyone to follow these basic infection prevention and control measures in our hospitals:

• Do not visit the hospital if you have the following symptoms:
  • New onset cough or an ongoing cough that is not improving
  • Raised temperature
  • Diarrhoea and / or vomiting
     
• If you do have these symptoms and visiting is essential and cannot be delayed for a few days whilst you recover, e.g. the patient is very unwell / dying, then please telephone the ward concerned and ask to speak to the nurse-in-charge. We are always keen to support visiting in these situations.
   
• Practice good respiratory hygiene: cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing using a tissue or the inside of your elbow. Dispose of tissues immediately following use and clean your hands.
   
• Clean your hands on entering and leaving our clinical areas, e.g. wards, using the hand wash basins or alcohol hand sanitiser available inside each patient multi-bed bay and single rooms.
   
• Visitors are not routinely required to wear disposable gloves and plastic aprons; but should be worn if you are helping the patient with their personal hygiene care.

Thank you for your continued support in keeping our patients, staff and visitors safe.

The Infection Prevention and Control Team