Visitor information

Quicklinks

• Visiting policy
• Patients due to undergo a surgical or diagnostic procedure in hospital
• Martin Ward
• Outpatient Areas and Day Case Areas
• Personal Protective Equipment for all Visitors
• Contacting patients
• Children
• Pets
• Food and drink
• Flowers
• Smoking
• Fire Alarms

Visiting Policy

We want to enable visiting as we believe it helps people recover and recognise that friends and family members are a vital support to patients.

However the utmost care and consideration must be given to the safety of other patients, visitors and staff by maintaining infection prevention and control procedures at all times.

Thank you for your understanding and co-operation over recent months as we have worked to protect the vulnerable people in our care from potential exposure to COVID–19.

Religious and spiritual support is available for patients, either face-to-face or by telephone.

Patients due to undergo a surgical or diagnostic procedure in hospital

Manx Care has removed the requirement for those who are due to undergo a surgical or diagnostic procedure in hospital to undertake a COVID-19 PCR test then isolate for three days until admission.

Instead, we now request that patients due for admission for a surgical or diagnostic procedure (i.e. endoscopy) undertake a Lateral Flow Test on the day of the procedure – if positive, they must not attend the hospital, and should instead telephone the relevant ward/department to inform the team that they will not be able to attend. Those who test positive via a Lateral Flow Test should also contact 111 to request a PCR test (or visit the Testing and Results page on the COVID website to request a test online).

Some procedures may however still require a PCR test to be undertaken; however patients will be informed by the Preoperative Assessment Clinic Service if this applies to them.

We also ask patients not to attend for their procedure and to notify the ward/department if:

• They are showing any symptoms relating to COVID-19
  
  
• They have been in contact with anyone with COVID-19 in the last 10 days, including those identified as a high risk, low risk or close contact by 111 within the previous 10 days

Martin Ward

• A maximum of 2 visitors per patient will be allowed at any one time on the Ward
  
  
• Visiting will be restricted to between the hours of 2pm to 4pm and 7pm to 8pm daily
  
  
• ALL VISITORS must report to the nurse’s station prior to visiting their relatives/friends
  
  
• There should be no more than one visitor around a bed at any one time, although additional visitors may be accommodated at the discretion of the Nurse in Charge
  
  
• Visiting out of restricted visiting times will be reviewed in exceptional circumstances. Visiting out of restricted visiting times will be at the discretion of the Senior Nurse/Site Manager in consultation with the Nurse in charge of the shift prior to visiting taking place
  
  
• Any visitor who is coughing or shows other signs of illness will be asked to leave

Outpatient Areas and Day Case Areas  

Some of our Outpatient clinics and procedures/treatments in day case areas are operating as normal – however, some are operating in a virtual capacity.

• One visitor/ escort per patient is permitted
  
  
• One parent/escort per child will be permitted for the duration of the child’s stay in the Outpatient area
  
  
• A clinical decision must be made for any patient who requires additional assistance
  
  
• Any visitor who is coughing or shows other signs of illness will be asked to leave

If an individual meets any of the above criteria, they will only be allowed to visit their relative if they are deemed to be imminent end of life, and with prior approval.

Where visits are approved, the arrangements for each patient and their relatives will be agreed on a case by case basis to reflect the individual circumstances of the situation. The relative should contact the relevant ward to advise the nurse in charge of their planned arrival on Island.

1. The hospitals will allow and facilitate each relative one visit to allow them to see the patient. The time duration of visits will be at the discretion of the Senior Nurse and Senior Sister for the Ward area
   
   
2. Visits to patients who are imminent end of life can take place even whilst an individual is waiting for the results of their COVID-19 swab
   
   
3. Only one person must visit their relative at their bedside at any one time. All other visitors must wait in a location as directed by ward staff. Visitors who are isolating must not visit at the same time as other visitors

Visitors must be advised that the following will be discussed and agreed by the Director of Operations (or in their absence another member of the Executive Leadership Team) in consultation with the relevant Senior Nurse and Senior Sister for the Ward area:

• Number, frequency and duration of any further visits
• Time and where visits will take place within a ward area.

Prior to arriving, relatives will be asked to make sure they are wearing an IIR facemask on entering hospital premises. The relative must be met at the Main Entrance by a member of the ward staff. The relative will then be escorted to the ward by the staff member (who will also be wearing an IIR facemask).

Before entering their relative’s room, staff from the ward will make sure that all relatives have been shown how to correctly wear this (to include eye protection, gloves, IIR mask and apron) and will support them in making sure this has been put on correctly

Relatives should be clear they should not remove their PPE whilst in the room AT ANY TIME.

Once the visit is over, ward staff must escort the visitor(s) out to the Main Entrance. Visitors should be advised not to go to any other departments or locations within the hospital after visiting.

Any subsequent amendments to the original agreed arrangements must be approved by the Site Manager/relevant Senior Nurse in consultation with the Senior Sister for the Ward area.

Contacting patients

To enquire about a patient on Martin Ward please contact the ward staff directly. They can be contacted any time of day or night.

Martin Ward also offers an Email Greeting Service, enabling patients to receive emails from friends and family:

Patients and visitors are welcome to use their mobile telephones within the hospital. However, if a patient does not have access to a mobile telephone, the hospital has a number of portable patient phones which friends and family are invited to call. Please contact the ward for more information:  

Children

Children are welcome, at the discretion of hospital staff, to visit patients on Martin Ward. However, please remember that it may not be advisable to bring young children due to the nature of a hospital environment.

Moreover, please respect the privacy and comfort of other patients and ensure children are supervised at all times.

Pets

Pets are not allowed on Martin Ward, with the exception of Guide Dogs.

Food and drink

Drinks and snacks are available from the vending machine in the Minor Injuries and Illness Unit (MIU) waiting area.

Patients on Martin Ward are provided with 3 meals a day, and snacks are supplied as required. However, if you do wish to bring additional food for patients, please check and agree this with the nurse in charge.

Flowers

Friends and family are welcome to bring flowers to patients on Martin Ward, although please be aware of any allergies the recipient may have. If you would like to send flowers to a patient, please include the name of the patient.

Smoking

Smoke Free Policy

As of 1 April 2021 smoking will no longer be permitted anywhere on the grounds of any Isle of Man Hospital. 

For further information, advice regarding temporary abstinence from smoking whilst on hospital premises or Specialist advice regarding quitting smoking please contact the Quit4You service by calling +44 1624 642404 or email quit4you@gov.im

We encourage no smoking. The Hospital is a no smoking building, however there are designated smoking areas. Please ask staff for directions.

Fire Alarms

Hospital fire alarms are tested every Tuesday morning, but if the fire alarm sounds at any other time the evacuation procedure begins. Please follow the directions of our fully trained staff.