Information for visitors
We warmly welcome visitors to Mildmay Hospital.
Visiting time is between 2pm and 8pm.
Visitor arrangements are managed by the nursing team, with oversight from nursing management.
The nurses work closely with our Reception team to coordinate visiting times and appointments.
If visitors have any questions, please contact the hospital reception on 020 7613 6300, or ask to be put through to the nursing team on the relevant extension:
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6300
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6301
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6302
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6401
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6304
Visitors are encouraged to visit patient areas; however, it is essential that this is managed safely and that it does not have a negative impact on patient’s rehabilitation.
The nursing team and multidisciplinary team reserve the right to refuse a visit or to request a visitor to leave if this becomes necessary, for example:
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if there is an immediate issue that may present a danger to either a patient, member of staff or a visitor
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if the patient or the visitor have an active infection
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if there is a safeguarding concern or if a visitor is attempting to prevent a patient from actively engaging with their therapy sessions.
Visitors should use the visitor’s toilet on the ground floor.
Infection Prevention Update
To keep everyone safe, we follow current infection prevention and control guidance, which now treats COVID-19 the same way as other respiratory infections, like flu or bad colds, in line with NHS infection control best practice.
This means that if a patient is infectious with a condition such as COVID-19, flu or norovirus, they will be asked to stay in isolation. While they are infectious, visitors will not be permitted in order to protect other patients, staff and visitors.
We understand visiting is important, and we’re happy to support alternative ways to stay connected.
Please speak to a member of our team if you would like assistance arranging phone or video calls during this time.
Visitor Guidance
Infection Control & Hand Hygiene
At Mildmay, we are committed to safeguarding the health and wellbeing of our patients, many of whom are especially vulnerable. To help us protect them, we kindly ask visitors to avoid coming to the hospital if they are experiencing any of the following: vomiting, diarrhoea, chickenpox, shingles, flu-like symptoms, or any unexplained rash. Preventing the spread of infection is crucial to our patients’ recovery.
Here’s how you can support us in maintaining a safe and clean environment:
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We kindly ask all visitors to sanitise their hands using the alcohol gel provided at reception when arriving and leaving the hospital. Alternatively, you can wash your hands in the visitor’s toilet located on the ground floor. Your help in keeping our environment clean and healthy is greatly appreciated!
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Wash your hands thoroughly when entering and leaving the hospital, as well as after meals or using the toilet.
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Please use alcohol hand gel when entering or leaving any ward or clinic area.
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Follow our hand hygiene practices, and encourage other visitors to do the same.
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Avoid sitting on patient beds or handling clinical equipment.
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If you spot any dirt or rubbish, please let a member of staff know right away.
General information (Safeguarding and Security)
Patients should always consent to visits, if they have the capacity to do so (please see Mental Capacity Act Procedure).
Reception staff will always check with ward staff if a patient wishes to see their visitor, before granting the visitor permission to access the ward or other areas. Ward staff will always gain consent from the patient, before permitting the visitor to attend. If there are specific safeguarding concerns, for example a history of domestic violence, ward and reception staff must be informed that a visitor is not permitted on the premises, or if there are specific restrictions of any kind. Staff always reserve the right to refuse admission to any visitor.
Mildmay’s staff reserve the right to ask the visitor to leave, for example if they appear to have an infection, if they appear to be disruptive to a patient’s rehabilitation, if there are safeguarding concerns, if a patient appears to be distressed by their visit, if they are aggressive or if staff suspect the visitor may have brought in alcohol or illegal substances.
Security and Ward staff also reserve the right to request for a visitor to be searched (please see Safe Environment and Search Procedure). Searches should be limited to requesting the visitor to empty their bag, package or pockets.
Visitors may refuse to be searched, however, this may result in them being denied access to the hospital premises. If a visitor refuses to leave and de-escalation techniques have been applied, police may need to be called to assist.
Your cooperation helps us ensure the best care for our patients and creates a safer environment for everyone. Thank you for your support!
Specific information relating to visitor access
Mildmay adapts its visiting restrictions in direct response to infection control guidelines.
The information below summarises high, medium and low levels of restriction. Mildmay’s Senior Management Team reserve the right to change the level of restriction at very short notice, if necessary (24 hours or less).
The information below applies to professional external visitors such as health professionals and contractors, as well as patient visitors such as family and friends.
Lower Level of Restriction
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This is the least restrictive option for visitors
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Visits will be permitted on the wards between 2pm and 8pm Monday-Sunday. Visits should not take place during patient’s individualised therapy sessions and they should not take place during protected mealtimes 12:30-13:30. Visitors must be aware that they may be asked to wait or return later if a patient is accessing a therapy session or another appointment. If a patient is repeatedly choosing to spend time with their visitors instead of accessing their therapeutic sessions, this may impact on their overall rehabilitation and may also lead to early discharge, due to lack of engagement. The Multidisciplinary team will need to discuss this with the patient and there may also be a need to discuss this with their visitor(s)
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Reception, Security and Nursing staff must inform visitors in advance that they will need to leave the premises by 8pm. Posters around the hospital and information on the website should also reinforce this message
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If a patient is receiving end of life care, visiting hours may be extended on an individual basis and this needs to be arranged in advance at the nursing team’s discretion
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Visitors experiencing symptoms such as diarrhoea, vomiting, sneezing, productive coughs and other symptoms indicative of an infection may not enter the building
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All visitors must sign the visitors book in Reception
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Professional in-person visits are possible but best practice is for these to be arranged in advance with the relevant member of Mildmay’s team i.e. patient’s keyworker or named nurse.
Medium Level of Restriction
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This is the intermediate level of restriction.
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All visits need to be booked in advance with the nursing team or therapists.
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No visits will be permitted on the wards/clinical areas
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Visits to patients can only take place in a designated room on the ground floor and must be planned in advance. All visits need to be booked in advance with the nursing and reception teams
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Visits may be scheduled from 2pm to 8pm Mon-Fri for a maximum of 1 hour per appointment.
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The available visiting time slots need to be shared between all inpatients.
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Visitors experiencing symptoms such as diarrhoea, vomiting, sneezing, productive coughs and other symptoms indicative of an infection may not enter the building
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Professional in-person visits are possible but must be arranged in advance with the relevant member of Mildmay’s team.
High Level of Restriction
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This is the highest level of restriction to visitation
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This level of restriction is activated in response to significant local or national outbreaks of infections,
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No visits will be permitted on the wards/clinical areas
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Visits to patients can only take place in a designated room on the ground floor and must be planned in advance. All visits need to be booked in advance with the nursing and reception teams and only one visitor may attend at any one time.
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Visits may be scheduled from 2pm to 8pm Mon-Fri for a maximum of 1 hour per appointment.
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The available visiting time slots need to be shared between all inpatients. If any patient wishes to receive more than one visitor on the same day, more than one appointment will need to be booked, and this is subject to availability and the level of demands for appointments on that particular day,
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Visitors experiencing symptoms such as diarrhoea, vomiting, sneezing, productive coughs and other symptoms indicative of an infection may not enter the building
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Professional visitors such as Health and Social Care professionals and others such as police or solicitors will also be required to telephone the unit in advance (with the exception of emergencies). Professional visits need to be pre-booked with the relevant professionals within the team. Professionals wishing to visit the patient are asked if they are able to utilise other methods of communication for example video calls or telephone calls.
Visiting time is between 2pm and 8pm.
Mildmay revises its Visitors Procedure directly in response to the UK Government Guidelines. In order to inform the procedure, Mildmay also adheres to guidelines issued by NHS England and the Care Quality Commission, and it aims to comply with the advice given by the local specialist Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Team (Mildmay currently has a Service Level Agreement with the Bartshealth IPC Team).
Other Related Policies & Procedures
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Health & Safety Policy (and related procedures)
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Adults at Risk Policy (Safeguarding, and related procedures)
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Mental Capacity Act Procedure
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Quality Assurance Policy
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Infection Control Procedure
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Safe Environment and Search Procedure