Visiting our hospitals
Family members, carers and friends can visit adult inpatients between 8am and 10pm, seven days a week, with a maximum of two visitors at a time.
There are some exceptions to these visiting hours, to ensure the clinical safety of some patients as well as staff. For patients in the departments below, only one visitor may accompany a patient to assist with consent. Open visiting hours are not suitable for these areas due to levels of patient care required and stricter infection control rules in place.
- Catheter lab
- ITU
- Day surgery unit (DSU)
- Endoscopy
- Stroke unit
- Emergency department (ED) at Watford
- Urgent treatment centre (UTC) at Watford and Hemel
- Emergency assessment unit (EAU) at Watford (2pm-8pm)
- Ambulatory care unit (ACU) at Watford
- Clinical decisions unit (CDU) at Watford
Visiting rules
If you are coming to visit:
- Clean your hands when entering and leaving wards
- Wear a surgical face mask in areas where display banners or staff ask you to
Do not visit if you have:
- Fever or cold like symptoms
- Diarrhoea or vomiting
- A rash
You need to wait 48 hours after your symptoms clear before visiting.
Read more about our infection prevention and control measures.
Exceptional circumstances
More flexible visiting will be allowed, under the guidance and support of the nurse in charge, in the following exceptional circumstances.
- The patient is receiving end of life care.
- The patient is in our Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
- The patient is a child on a paediatric ward, being visited by their parents or an appropriate adult.
- The patient has a mental health issue, where not having a family member present would cause distress to the patient.
- If you are supporting a family member or friend (unpaid carer) who may need support with communication, their mental health/wellbeing, personal care and feeding, or if a patient has dementia, delirium, a learning disability, or autism where not having a family member present would cause distress to the patient.
The visiting arrangements, including the number of visitors, will be subject to discussion and agreement with the nurse in charge taking in to account the safety of others.
Visiting for children and babies
Visiting is open to parents or guardians as follows:
- Starfish ward, Children’s emergency department (CED), paediatric assessment unit (PAU) and Safari day unit - two parents or guardians may accompany child.
- Neonatal unit and transitional care - both parents can visit twenty four hours a day, seven days a week (24/7).
Maternity visiting
View details about current visiting arrangements for maternity.
The final decision regarding visiting will always be at the discretion of the nurse in charge.
Please note, wards may be subject to closure at short notice due to infection control measures.
Please keep in close contact with the ward before visiting.
