Information for visitors
* Last updated Thursday 19 December 2024
On Monday 8 July 2024, visiting hours changed across all University Hospitals of Derby and Burton sites, following changes in national regulation from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) >, and feedback from patients, visitors and staff.
We recognised we can deliver more compassionate patient-centred care and better experiences by changing our visiting hours so that you can visit your loved ones in our care at times that are flexible and fit around your life commitments.
Your support and presence are essential to the health, wellbeing and in some cases, recovery of patients in our care. With this new change, patients can see the people they want to see at times that are less restricted.
Visitors' Charter
Our Visitors' Charter sets out what behaviours and commitments patients and visitors can expect from us, and what we expect in return. Read a simple version at bottom of the page, or download the full visitors' charter below.
Download UHDB Visitors Charter A4 [pdf] 468KB
General wards and high dependency units (HDU)
Visiting hours are from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week for general wards and high dependency units.
We restrict visiting to two visitors per patient, but in some circumstances additional visitors may be permitted following discussion with the nurse in charge.
Some departments and wards will have different visiting hours and rules to ensure patient safety, care and experience is prioritised.
The wards below have open, 24-hour visiting:
- Medical Assessment Unit at Royal Derby Hospital
- Ward 2 Florence Nightingale Community Hospital
- Macmillan Unit Royal Derby Hospital
- Intensive Care Units at Royal Derby Hospital
Day case surgery and elective admission lounges
Day case surgery, sometimes called day surgery, means an operation or surgical procedure that does not involve an overnight stay in hospital. Elective admissions lounges are areas where surgical patients report to on the day of planned surgery.
Due to limited space, and to prepare patients for theatre in a timely manner, access is not generally possible for family or carers to accompany the patient. However, this can be considered for visitors accompanying patients with vulnerability issues, such as sensory impairment, learning disability, dementia and other cognitive impairments or mental health conditions, on a case-by-case basis following discussion with the nurse in charge.
Visiting in Maternity
Labour wards/birth centres at Queen's Hospital Burton or Royal Derby Hospital sites: women and birthing people can have two support people 24 hours a day.
Postnatal wards: partners or one birthing support person are welcome to stay 24 hours a day following the birth. Siblings of the baby are welcome to visit at any time.
Visiting for all others is from 8am to 8pm, and includes up to two people per bed (excluding partners or birthing support person).
Visiting children and young people
Children's Emergency Department (CED) and Paediatric Assessment Unit (PAU): due to limited space in these areas it is requested that the child should be accompanied by one parent or carer only. This will obviously depend on individual circumstances and can be discussed with the nurse in charge. It is requested that siblings do not attend departments as visitors but, in extraordinary circumstances, this can also be discussed with the nurse in charge.
Neonatal intensive care and Neonatal Unit: siblings, parents and grandparents can visit at any time, 24 hours a day. For any other visitors, visiting is restricted to 3pm to 8pm, but if reasonable adjustment is required, please discuss with nurse in charge.
Paediatric Critical Care Unit (PCCU): two parents may attend at any time and siblings visiting must be discussed with the nurse in charge.
For all other inpatient wards: two parents or carers may visit at any time and one parent may stay overnight. Please discuss visiting by siblings with the nurse in charge.
Outpatients: two parents or carers may attend with the child or young person.
Inside our hospitals we care for vulnerable patients so all visitors and patients should;
- Regularly clean hands with hand sanitiser or wash with soap and water.
- Refrain from eating or drinking in clinical areas.
- Follow any Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) guidance as instructed by staff while they are on hospital premises.
Face masks
- If you are visiting for compassionate reasons and are displaying symptoms, you must wear a mask, please inform a member of staff prior to visiting.
- If you are visiting a patient who has a suspected or confirmed respiratory infection, you must wear a mask but will be guided by clinical staff upon arrival.
Masks are available on request and sanitiser outlets are located across our hospitals. Staff will advise you on areas where you need to wear a mask if you are not sure.
Please do not enter our hospitals if;
- You have had any of the following symptoms in the last 10 days: A new continuous dry cough, a high temperature, a loss of or change in your normal sense of taste or smell, cold like symptoms (coughing, sneezing, sore throat, runny nose), diarrhoea or vomiting.
- You must not visit if you have been in contact with a known Covid-19, Influenza or diarrhoea or vomiting case in the past 10 days.
Contacting our wards
We understand that it is important to contact your loved ones while they are in hospital. Where possible, we encourage relatives and friends to call the patient directly or have a video call. Our sites have free WiFi which supports web browsing and instant messaging, allowing you stay in touch.
If you want to contact the ward for updates, we would be grateful if one person from the family can be the nominated contact, who then keeps the rest of the family and friends informed. This helps to keep our phone lines as clear as possible for other families who need updates.
We know that it’s important for our patients to see family and friends but please make use of the other options to stay connected with your loved one > during their stay in hospital.