Exceptions

There are a number of areas where visiting is considered to be essential and will continue to be permitted. Anyone who wishes to discuss a specific visiting requirement,  can discuss this with nurse-in charge in person. 

Please note that for Mental Health and Learning Disability Services there is person centred visiting with no booking system in place.

These wards are:

• All the wards at Stratheden Hospital, Ravenscraig and Whyteman's Brae Hospitals
• Ward 1, 2 and 4 at QMH. 

Further details can be found on the following links Maternity /End of Life Care /Mental Health/Learning Disabilities / Children’s Department. 

This position will be kept under regular review. 

Testing

Visitors to hospitals no longer need to take LFD COVID-19 tests before their visit.

• Please do not visit your friends and loved ones if you feel unwell
• Wash your hands and use hand gels provided, particularly when you arrive and leave

Face masks 

From 16 May 2023 the guidance for the extended use of face masks and face coverings in hospitals, primary care and wider community healthcare for staff in acute and hospital settings is no longer applicable. Mask use will be based on clinical need meaning that staff, patients, service users and visitors will no longer be asked to wear facemasks in health and social care settings. 

From this date, NHS Fife, in line with other boards, will follow the infection prevention and control guidance within the NHS SCOTLAND National infection prevention and control manual in its use of face masks and coverings.

The guidance has changed because the transmission rates from COVID-19 are lower. This is due to the high uptake of COVID-19 vaccinations, the reduced severity of illness and hospitalisations, and the wider availability of treatments for COVID-19. 

Individual patients and members of the public may continue to choose to wear a face covering whilst attending hospital or other health premises and will be fully supported to do so.

Essential visiting

At times it may be necessary to restrict visiting for short periods of time for specific reasons. For example, if there is an outbreak of an infection such as COVID-19 in a ward it is normal practice to restrict visiting until the outbreak is under control. Even in these circumstances we would expect essential visits to be able to continue where required. Some examples of situations include, when someone is reaching the end of their life, if someone has dementia and needs family support, support for someone with a learning disability, a family member who has informal caring responsibilities, parents with a child in hospital and care relating to childbirth including both ante-natal and post-natal care. These examples are illustrative and are not an exhaustive list. Contact the ward and nurse in charge to discuss your personal circumstances.

Standard visiting

Patients in most areas of Fife hospitals are allowed visits from two people at a time.

If you are visiting please remember to:

• follow the guidance on hand hygiene
• wear a face mask if asked to and provided by a member of staff
• don't visit if you feel unwell in anyway

Young visitors

Parents own children (siblings of the newborn) will be welcome to visit within the maternity ward area, out with quiet time. 

Quiet Time

Quiet Time runs from 230pm until 430pm in our maternity wards. 

The two-hour period where lights are dimmed and noise is kept to a minimum. This helps in the developmental care of the newborn and allows mothers to rest. 

Only one birth partner will be able to stay during quiet time.  

Virtual visiting

Where in-person support is not possible, a patient can be supported by alternatives such as virtual visiting using tablets or mobiles.