Help Us During the Hot Weather: Visiting Patients on Wards
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To help keep our wards as cool and comfortable as possible for patients, we kindly ask visitors to limit the number of people visiting at any one time. Where possible, we would also be grateful if visitors could spend time outside the ward area between visits such as our public spaces. Thank you for your understanding, support, and cooperation as we work to keep our patients safe and comfortable. |
Visiting at Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals
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. Only one visitor per patient is allowed in the emergency department.
Find out more about ward visiting times and exceptions at each hospital.
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
