Key points
- Nominate one person in your family to be the point of contact with the nurse.
- All visitors to the ICU should follow strict infection control guidelines.
Keeping up to date
It is important that your family is kept up to date while you are in the ICU. The bedside nurse will provide them with regular updates on your progress. They will be provided with a direct number to your room where they can speak with your nurse at any time, day or night. If they do not get a reply immediately, they shouldn't worry. The nurse may be busy providing care for you and be unable to answer the phone. Try ringing back in a few minutes.
It is best if one family member or friend is identified as the primary point of contact for clinical updates. A meeting with the ICU consultant or member of the team can be arranged by speaking with the bedside nurse. If you require a translator for these meetings please let the nurse know and we can arrange this at no cost.
Visitors
Visiting hours are from 2pm to 4pm and 6.30pm to 8pm each day. Only 2 people are allowed at your bedside at any given time, so your visitors may need to take turns in the waiting room. Ideally only immediate family should visit you in the ICU. If young children would like to visit, please discuss with the ICU nurse manager on duty.
When you arrive in the waiting room, please use the intercom to let us know that you are here and we will let you in as soon as possible. Sometimes in order to provide necessary care, you may be asked to wait before visiting. We will try to keep these disruptions to a minimum during your visit.
Infection control
If you're visiting your loved one in the ICU:
- Wear a mask. You may also be asked to wear gloves and an apron provided by the nurse.
- Wash or sanitise your hands frequently.
- Don't touch your loved one's bed or any of their medical equipment.
- Don't visit the hospital if you're feeling unwell, or if you have been unwell in the last 3 days.