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Visiting us

Everything you need to know if you are visiting our wards.

Please help us keep everyone as safe as possible:

  • Always wash or gel your hands when entering and leaving our wards and hospitals
  • Ensure no more than two visitors are at a patient’s bedside at any one time

Please note some high risk areas may ask visitors to wear a face covering and some visiting restrictions may be required from time to time.

Visiting times

Visitors are welcome daily at any time between:

  • 2pm to 4.30pm
  • 6pm to 8pm

There’s no need to make an appointment unless you wish to visit a patient in critical care.

Please do not visit if:

  • You have tested positive for COVID-19

  • You have flu or respiratory symptoms

  • You have symptoms of an infectious disease

  • You have had sickness or diarrhoea in the last 48 hours

Visit the NHS website for more advice on symptoms and testing.

If you are unable to visit why not ask the ward about arranging a virtual visit using one of our ward iPads?

Flexible visiting

More flexible visiting can be arranged when:

  • Visiting a child or baby

  • Visiting a patient at the end of their life or when they are critically ill

  • You are supporting someone with dementia, a learning disability or autism, where not being present would cause the patient to be distressed

These flexible visits can be arranged by calling the hospital ward and asking to speak to the nurse in charge.

Please could all visitors gel their hands upon entering and leaving both the hospital and ward areas.

Do I need to wear a face covering?

To help us keep our most vulnerable patients safe please still wear a face mask if you are visiting:

  • Haematology (ward 33/haematology day unit)
  • The Sir Robert Ogden Macmillan Centre
  • Patients who are immunocompromised
  • Patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19

Face masks for incoming patients 

If you are experiencing symptoms of flu and need to visit our services for support, you may be asked to wear a face mask as a precautionary measure.

If asked, a face mask will be provided to you.

Please be respectful of our staff who are looking after our communities over the busy winter period.

Send a message to a friend or relative

If you would like to get a message or picture to an inpatient at any of our hospitals our patient experience team are here to help.

Simply email your message to [email protected] including the full name of the patient and the ward that they are on (if known) and we will ensure it is passed on as soon as possible.

To help us ensure your message reaches the right person please include their full name, date of birth and the first line of their home address (or the name of their GP surgery).

Gifts and cards can also be dropped off at the patient experience office near north reception at The James Cook University Hospital on weekdays between 9am and 4pm.

Information for visitors leaflet