Living with Covid. Mask rules dropped Southport and Ormskirk Hospitals

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Wearing a face-covering while visiting most areas in our hospitals is no longer a requirement. This change has been made in line with the Government’s living with Covid strategy.

However, we do encourage visitors to take the lead from staff in the area they are visiting who will continue to wear surgical masks when:

  • They are caring for suspected or confirmed Covid positive patients
  • Patients are particularly vulnerable to infection
  • A patient’s care or condition presents a risk of infection to the people around them

Visitors and staff may also wish to wear a face-covering as personal preference. Surgical masks continue to be available at all hospital entrances.

We continue to manage hospital visiting to protect patients, staff and the community from Covid-19 infection.

The Trust regularly reviews this decision, ensuring we are in line with both regional and national guidance.

Visitors are advised to book with the ward in advance. Times are at the discretion of the individual ward to ensure social distancing is maintained between staff, patients and visitors.

Wards and/or individuals bays may be closed without notice for infection prevention and control reason e.g. norovirus.

Who can visit?
Up to two visitors at a time for patients:

  • At the end of their lives
  • Diagnosed with dementia
  • Who have a learning disability
  • Who have autism
  • Identified as at a risk of falls
  • Needing support eating and/or drinking
  • Or other similar complex condition where not having a familiar face present would cause them distress
  • 16 to 17-year-olds on adult wards

One person may accompany each patient into the adult A&E at Southport hospital
All other adult inpatients may receive two visitors at any one time but for a set period agreed with the ward.

All visits must be booked in advance to avoid over-crowding and minimise risk of infection. Ward telephone numbers for Ormskirk here and Southport here.

Different people may visit on different days. Visitors should also consider the needs and wishes of the patient. Separate arrangements are in place for visits to:

  • Children’s ward and A&E: two parents/carers per child
  • Maternity and neonatal
  • North West Regional Spinal Injuries Centre

Speak to the ward or department concerned for further information.

Requests to visit outside this guidance should be discussed with the nurse or matron in charge. Individual visiting plans can be supported in exceptional circumstances.

What precautions must visitors take?

Please take a lead on wearing a face-covering from the clinical staff in the area you’re visiting. Surgical masks are provide free at all main entrances

Do not visit if you are Covid-19 positive, have any Covid-19 symptoms including:

  • Fever / high temperature 37.8C or above
  • New continuous cough
  • Loss / change of sense of taste or smell

Have symptoms of diarrhoea or vomiting