Here’s some important guidance for visiting or accompanying a patient at Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, helping us keep everyone safe and comfortable:

• Visiting Hours: Generally, inpatient ward visiting hours are from 9 am to 9 pm, though there may be a few exceptions.
• Check-In: When visiting an inpatient, please check in at the ward’s reception desk upon arrival.
• Identification: You might be asked to show identification and provide the name of the patient you’re visiting.
• Visitor Numbers: To ensure space and comfort, we ask for a maximum of two visitors at a time for inpatients. For outpatient appointments or in the Emergency Department, please limit it to one person accompanying the patient due to limited space. If more people arrive, be prepared to wait in another part of the hospital.
• Masks: Masks will be available in all clinical areas for patients and visitors who prefer to wear one. Visitors will be required to wear a mask in certain patient areas, and our staff wear masks based on risk assessments (e.g., during specific procedures or when there’s a risk to immunosuppressed patients).
• Hand Hygiene: Please maintain good hand hygiene at all times. Use hand sanitiser and wash your hands frequently, especially before and after visiting a patient.
• Feeling Unwell? If you’re feeling unwell, please postpone your visit to protect our patients and staff.
• Staff Instructions: Always follow any instructions given by our staff. This general guidance may have changes or exceptions based on specific patient needs or current circumstances.
• Respect Privacy: Please respect patient privacy. Do not take photographs, film, or record patients. Refer to our website for guidance on appropriate phone and camera use in our hospital.
• No Smoking/Vaping: Please do not smoke or vape anywhere on any of our sites.

Respect privacy

Be mindful of other patients’ privacy and avoid entering rooms or areas other than the one you are visiting.

Using phones and cameras

The Trust recognises that on occasions patients and their families may wish to take photos or video themselves while in hospital – for example at the birth of a baby or for keeping in touch with relatives. As far as possible we would like to accommodate those wishes, but in doing so we must take into consideration the needs and feelings of other patients and staff in the area.

Please follow these rules:

If you see somebody taking pictures inappropriately, please speak to a senior member of staff in that department and make them aware of your concerns.

• You must not take anyone’s photo without permission, including staff or people in the background e.g. in busy waiting areas. It is important to remember that taking a photo or video could breach another person’s right to privacy and cause them distress.
• You must not make video calls in a way that means the other person can see any other patients, visitors or staff members.
• It’s important that the senior nurse or midwife on duty gives permission for any photography, filming or recording.
• Take images only of your relative. Be aware of other patients, visitors or staff who may be in the background. Don’t include anyone who hasn’t clearly given their permission.
• If permission has been given for a video with sound to be made, it will record all the sounds in that area and where possible, this should be done away from the ward.
• If any patient, visitor or staff member refuses to be recorded, their wishes must be adhered to.
• To ensure that we keep within the law, members of the public recording images or sounds against the Trust’s advice or without appropriate consent may be liable to prosecution.
• If a staff member asks you to stop filming, recording or taking photos at any time on our sites, you must stop.

All patients can have someone with them if they wish during appointments and can request a chaperone. Having someone with you at appointments.