Visiting Our Hospitals

Please note, visiting can be restricted or suspended with immediate effect if there are any safety concerns due to a spread of infection on our wards or in our communities. 

To confirm that the ward you are planning to visit is currently open, please call our switchboard numbers:

• Southport Hospital: 01704 547471
• Ormskirk Hospital: 01695 577111

Please do not visit our hospitals if you have been feeling unwell in the last 48 hours with symptoms such as:

• Vomiting, stomach pains and/or diarrhoea
• high temperature
• runny or blocked nose
• sneezing
• a cough
• red, sore watery eyes

Measles

If you have been in contact with someone with measles in the last three weeks, or you are unwell, then please do not visit our hospitals.

Measles usually starts with cold-like symptoms, followed by a rash a few days later. Some people may also get small spots in their mouth. If you have had measles, you must not visit until day 4 after the onset of the rash (day of onset of the rash being day 0) and are feeling well.

If you need to attend hospital and have been in contact with measles in the last three weeks, please inform us as soon as possible: if attending hospital urgently, please inform the receptionist or clinical team as soon as you arrive; if you have a planned appointment, please inform your clinical team as soon as possible prior to attending.

Further information about measles can be found here: Measles - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Visitors are also reminded they must not attend the hospital if they have Symptoms or test positive with COVID-19.

Hospital Visiting Hours

Current visiting times for adult wards are generally 1.30pm to 4.00pm and 6.00pm to 8.00pm. Some wards operate different visiting hours. See below for more details.

Wards with different visiting hours:

• Ward 10b, Southport Hospital - 2.00pm to 5.00pm and 7.30pm to 8.30pm.
• Ward 11a, Southport Hospital - 2.00pm to 4.00pm and 6.00pm to 7.00pm.
• Ward 11b, Southport Hospital - 12.00pm to 8.00pm
• Ward 14b, Southport Hospital - 12.00pm to 8.00pm
• Ward 15b, Southport Hospital - 1.00pm to 4.30pm and 6.30pm to 8.00pm.
• Ward G, Ormskirk Hospital - 1.00pm to 4.30pm and 6.00pm to 8.00pm.

Separate arrangements are in place for visits to:

• Children’s ward and A&E: two parents/carers per child
• Maternity and neonatal
• North West Regional Spinal Injuries Centre

Please speak to the ward or department concerned for further information.

Requests to visit outside this guidance should be discussed with the nurse or matron in charge. Individual visiting plans can be supported in exceptional circumstances.

Please note that wards and/or individual bays may be closed without notice for infection prevention and control reason e.g. norovirus.

Who can visit?

• Up to two visitors at a time for patients
• One person may accompany each patient into the adult A&E at Southport hospital

What precautions must visitors take?

There is no longer a requirement for all visitors to wear masks when on Trust premises. However, this will still be required in areas where there are increased numbers of respiratory virus infections – please speak to the nurse in charge of the ward/department for further information.

If you have a requirement to wear a mask due to health reasons or due to personal preference, masks will be provided at the hospital entrances.

What alternatives are there to contacting someone in hospital?

Video calls. We can facilitate pre-arranged video calls calls using an iPad by contacting a member of staff on the appropriate ward. If your loved one has their own device and can accept video or telephone calls independently, then we encourage you to keep in touch this way also.

Our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) service offers support, information and assistance to patients, relatives and visitors. The team can also provide help and advice if you have a concern or complaint that staff have not been able to resolve for you. Email soh-tr.pals@merseywestlancs.nhs.uk.