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Effective from Monday 31st July 2023
Eastern Health is committed to balancing patients’ need for contact with their families and friends and providing services in a safe and effective manner.
All visitors to hospital must use hand sanitiser and wear a mask when in ward or clinic areas.
Some areas of our facilities have additional PPE requirements. All visitors are required to follow requests from staff to wear different masks, gloves or gowns where required.
The following visitors are advised not to attend:
• Visitors with symptoms of COVID-19
• Visitors who have tested positive to COVID-19 within 7 days
• Visitors who are a close contact of a confirmed COVID-19 caseChildren aged 8 years and over are required to wear a surgical mask. Children are included in the total number of visitors for a patient
Children presenting for treatment aged 2-8 years of age may wear a surgical mask if tolerated.
AREA
REQUIREMENTS
Emergency Department
One visitor is permitted for adult patients. For children and infants, two carers may accompany the patient.
End of life care
Two visitors are permitted at any one time. A group may exceed the ‘two visitors at a time’ rule by prior arrangement with the treating care team Birth Suite
A partner and a support person of a pregnant patient can attend the labour and birth for as long as required and must adhere to all infection control requirements advised by the treating team. If you have COVID-19 at the time of labour, your partner or support person will be able to accompany you in birth suite. You will need to speak with your treating team.
Postnatal ward
Two adults are permitted to visit (i.e. partner/support person and one other support person or 2 support persons if partner not present). Siblings of newborn are permitted. Visiting hours are 8am-8pm. Special care nursery and Paediatric ward
Two parents or guardians may visit until 8pm. One parent may stay overnight on the paediatric ward.
Siblings of patients may accompany parent/s who are visiting during the day (while in the ward they must remain by the patient’s bedside)
One parent may visit special care nursery overnight to facilitate breastfeeding.
Antenatal clinic
A partner or support person may attend. Children who are below school age may accompany their parent to the appointment.
Outpatients and other day procedure areas
One visitor is permitted for adult patients. For children, two carers may accompany the patient.
Adolescent Inpatient Psychiatric Unit (AIPU), Infant, Child and Youth Mental Health Community Services (ICYMHS), Older Adults Mental Health and Mental Health Inpatient Unit There is no restriction on visiting, however visitors are asked to contact the service prior to visiting. Perinatal Emotional Health Service (PEHS)
Outpatient clients with a clinical appointment may attend appointment with their partner/support person and infant/under school age children or, as requested by the service.
Inpatient ward areas (adult) Two visitors per patient per day is permitted.
Exceptional and compassionate circumstances will be considered by local care teams.
Residential Care Services
There are no restrictions for visitors in residential care services.
All visitors to Eastern Health have a responsibility to treat all healthcare staff and patients with respect and courtesy, without discrimination and behave in a way that does not disrupt our services or cause harm to our staff members, patients or visitors. Physical aggression and abusive language including swearing, name calling and threats directed at our staff will not be tolerated. We thank you for your cooperation.
COVID19
Eastern Health is committed to ensuring the communities we service receive care that is responsive to their cultural and language needs.
Eastern Health acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which its services operate, and pays respect to their Elders past, present and emerging. Eastern Health is committed to achieving equality in health status between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-indigenous Australians.
Eastern Health strives to be an inclusive healthcare service.
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