COVID-19 visitor policy
Updated October 2022
NSW Health continues to focus on providing a safe health service for patients, their families and carers, and staff, while providing kind and compassionate care.
Visitors to NSW Health hospitals, community health centres, and outreach clinics are welcome and are required to wear a mask before entering and while inside a healthcare facility. Children aged 12 and under are not required to wear masks.
Masks and hand sanitiser will be freely available at all healthcare settings.
If the person you are wishing to visit is currently COVID-19 positive, your request will need to be clinically assessed and some restrictions may apply.
If you have cold or flu-like symptoms such as a cough, fever, sore throat or runny nose please stay at home and don’t visit a healthcare setting for at least seven days, and then ensure you have a negative RAT before visiting.
As an added precaution to protect patients and staff from infection, if you think you may be a high risk for having acquired COVID-19, please avoid visiting friends and family in hospital for 7 days after your exposure risk.
Some hospitals may implement short-term restrictions in response to a local COVID-19 outbreak to minimise the risk of transmission and ensure the safety of patients and staff.
Additional recommendation for high risk settings
Visitors entering wards with vulnerable patients in the Western Sydney Local Health District will be asked to complete screening on their mobile devices prior to accessing the wards. This is to provide an extra layer of protection for those most at risk from COVID-19 or other respiratory illness. QR codes will be placed at the entrances to these areas with instructions. For those without mobile devices please speak to a staff member before entering the area.
Visiting Hours to Facilities
Our general visiting hours from 8 am to 8 pm with no more than 4 visitors to one patient at one time. Visiting hours and the number of visitors may vary for some wards and services.
WESTMEAD |
|
Visiting Hours |
No, of visitors allowed per patient |
General |
8 am – 8 pm
|
4 |
ICU |
10 am - 12 pm & 5 pm - 8 pm |
2 |
NICU* |
10 am - 12 pm & 5 pm - 8 pm
Anytime
|
2
(with one being an immediate family member, must be a parent)
Parents |
Women’s Health Clinic Visits
Please note that fully vaccinated partners may enter the clinics at the time of client visit appointment time only. Until this time all partners must wait outside in the clinic waiting area until the time of their partner actual visit time.
Please note that entry to wards will be at the discretion of ward managers, and may be refused when necessary for safety reasons.
People must not visit NSW Health hospitals under any circumstances if they:
• have been to case locations in NSW, interstate affected areas or New Zealand in the last 14 days;
• have COVID-19 symptoms;
• are waiting for a COVID-19 test result;
• are a close contact of a person with confirmed COVID-19 and are within their isolation period;
• live in a household with a person who is currently isolating; or
• live in a household with a person who is currently isolating.
All people aged 12 and up can get their COVID-19 vaccination now.
Everyone aged 18 years and older may now receive a booster five months after receiving their second dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
We urge people to get their booster dose as soon as they are eligible, to best protect yourself, your loved ones and the community from the ongoing transmission of COVID-19.
Vaccinations are available at The Granville Centre Vaccination Clinic, Blacktown Hospital Vaccination Clinic.
If you have COVID symptoms, please get tested and isolate until you have a negative result – even if you’re fully vaccinated
Meal Times for Patients
Inpatient meals are served during these periods:
-
Breakfast: 7:00am – 8:15am
- Morning Tea: 10:00am – 11am
- Lunch: 12:00pm – 1:15pm
- Afternoon Tea: 2:30pm – 3:30pm
- Dinner: 5:30pm – 6:45pm
- Supper: 7:15pm – 8:15pm
VISITOR MASK USE