From 29/06/22 patients in most areas of Fife hospitals are allowed visits from one person only at any given time. You can read more about this here.
Essential visiting
Essential visiting is in operation in a small number of our wards currently.
The following are currently permitted only for essential visiting. Note that this list is updated daily so if you are in any doubt about whether you can visit, please do not hesitate to contact the ward and nurse in charge to discuss your personal circumstances.
- Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy, Ward 6 (Bay 2, 3 and 5)
- Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy, Ward 41 (Bay 1)
- Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy, Ward 43 (Bay 1, 3 and 4)
- Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy, Ward 44
- Queen Margaret Hospital, Dunfermline, Ward 1
- Queen Margaret Hospital, Dunfermline, Ward 3 (Bay 3)
- Queen Margaret Hospital, Dunfermline, Ward 6
- Stratheden Hospital, Elmview
- Glenrothes Hospital, Ward 2 (Bay 5 and 6)
- Cameron Hospital, Balcurvie (Male side)
We have assessed the risks of the environment and regularly review our guidance to allow safe visiting between patients and visitors and ask all visitors to adhere to our current guidance, to ensure that everyone is kept safe.
Home test for Covid prior to visiting
If you are visiting one of our hospitals, you will be able to order a home testing kit online, visit www.nhsinform.scot or call 119. Please ensure that you follow the guidance below. Find out more about continued LFT testing for identified groups here.
Clean your hands regularly with soap and water or hand sanitiser
Please wear a fluid resistant surgical mask - these will be available on arrival
If you are feeling unwell, have COVID symptoms, or are identified as a contact, please do not visit
Respectfully, current visiting is limited to 1 visitor per patient
Movement around the hospital will be limited - please do not visit other patients
Visitors should not bring in food parcels, flowers, helium balloons or similar items
Please take a lateral flow test before visiting our hospitals
Catering facilities will not be available and please do not eat or drink in a ward environment
Maintain physical distancing wherever possible
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
Owing to a substantial rise in the number of Covid cases in Scotland in recent weeks, visits to patients in our Fife hospitals will be limited to one visitor per day. This will be kept under regular review.
To help us to manage the impact of the rising number of Covid cases, strict hygiene and distancing measures remain in place to help us minimise the risk to patients and healthcare staff. For this reason, all visitors should regularly apply hand sanitiser and must wear a fluid resistant surgical face mask when visiting. These masks are available free for your use at hospital entrances.
Young visitors
Unfortunately, due to current restrictions within the waiting areas, no children will be allowed to accompany parents at Antenatal Clinic / Day-care / Maternity Assessment appointments or within the Delivery suite areas.
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.
Covid19 Testing
Visitors are also strongly urged to test for COVID-19 before attending and home test kits remain free-of-charge to those visiting hospitals. Information on how to order such kits is available at: www.nhsfife.org/testing.
All visiting arrangements continue to be kept under regular review in line with COVID-19 infection rates and hospital capacity, with a view to moving to full person-centred visiting when safe to do so.
Exceptions
There are a number of areas where visiting is considered to be essential and will continue to be permitted. Details can be found on the following links Maternity / End of Life Care /Mental Health/Learning Disabilities / Children’s Department. If in any doubt, visitors should contact us and discuss with nurse-in charge.
This position will be kept under regular review.
Virtual visiting
Where in-person support is not possible, a patient can be supported by alternatives such as virtual visiting using tablets or mobiles.