COVID-19 patient information
Updated 19 July 2021
The health, safety and wellbeing of our patients, communities and individuals and teams remain our absolute priority.
We understand many of you will be eager to visit, but we need to ensure this is done safely.
We appreciate how hard it has been to keep in touch with loved ones who are in hospital with these restrictions in place. We’d like to thank you for your support and understanding during this difficult time.
We continue to review our visiting arrangements in line with national guidance and the local infection rates, so please be aware we may need to change this guidance at short notice.
You MUST NOT visit the hospital if you have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, whether you live with that person or not. If you are unsure, read the government guidance for more information.
You are still expected to wear a face covering whilst in our hospital wards, departments and corridors.
You should read this leaflet before you make arrangements to book your visit.
COVID Patient Information Leaflet -Visiting Guidance for relatives JULY 21 V3
Visits are restricted in:
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Elective Surgery Wards
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Ward 19 – COVID Ward
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Intensive Care Unit (Ward 16) -COVID side
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Emergency Department – you should come to the department on your own where possible. When we are very busy we will need to restrict the number of people we can accomodate in the department to ensure we can safely socially distance. You will be able to have ONE person to accompany you if you have a disability or health condition where you require support. Children can be accompanied by ONE parent/ guardian.
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Acute Assessment Unit (AAU) – one person may accompany a patient to get settled in, then after 24 hours of admission one visitor may book for a same day appointment. You cannot book visits further in advance as patients are likely to move.
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Outpatients – you should attend your appointment on your own unless you require support due to a disability or health condition.
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For information on maternity visiting go to our maternity page click here
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For information about visiting the Childrens’ Ward click here
PLEASE DO NOT TRAVEL TO THE HOSPITAL IF YOU HAVE NOT DISCUSSED YOUR VISIT WITH THE WARD STAFF FIRST.
Virtual Visiting
We are offering a virtual visiting service using iPads so you can virtually meet with your loved one. They will be supported with the visit by a member of our ward staff.
What do I need for a visit?
You need an email address, a Wi-Fi connection or mobile data and a smart device (Apple or Android) or PC/Laptop with webcam and microphone. Watch this short video for more information
How long are visits?
We’re suggesting 20-30 minutes for a visit.
Can more than one relative join a visit?
Yes but we do not suggest more than two people joining at once. You will both need to login to the waiting room on your separate devices.
How do I arrange a visit?
You should contact the ward directly to arrange your visit and they will discuss a mutually agreed time with you.
What do I need to do?
At the time agreed with the ward, you should click into one of the waiting rooms below. PLEASE ONLY CLICK THE LINK IF YOU HAVE PRE BOOKED A VISIT.
PLEASE NOTE, WHEN VIRTUAL VISITING WAS SET UP IN APRIL 2020, THE WARD ALLOCATION (HOT/COLD) WAS DIFFERENT TO HOW THE LINKS APPEAR BELOW. CURRENTLY, WARD 19 AND PART OF ICU ARE COVID POSITIVE WARDS.
If you’re not familiar with the technology, test the link in advance of your visit to check it works.
For wards 9, 13, 14, 18, 19 and AAU, please use this link:
https://nhs.vc/virtual-visiting-for-families-carers-hot-wards
For wards 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, Castleberg, Neonatal and Maternity please use this link:
https://nhs.vc/virtual-visiting-for-families-and-carers
For Intensive Care Unit (ICU) please use this link:
https://nhs.vc/icu-virtual-visiting
If you have a visit that you have arranged with our Chaplaincy Department please use this link:
https://nhs.vc/AiredaleChaplaincy
I’m having problems, what should I do?
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Ensure you have allowed the website to access the camera and microphone on your device
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Ensure you have opened the link in Google, Google Chrome or Safari
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If you are using an iPhone or iPad, close other apps running in the background on your device
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Our ward staff may have arranged a time with you but may be delayed, wait for up to 10 minutes and contact the ward if you are still waiting to be seen after this time
Pick up/drop off service
The Trust has set up a service for relatives so you can drop off a bag of personal belongings and if required, collect any laundry items from your loved one to take home with you.
We hope this service will help to make your loved one’s stay more comfortable in hospital and give you piece of mind that they have their own things available to them.
The service runs Monday to Friday 10am-4:00pm. If you need to drop off outside of these times, please contact the ward directly.
If you have symptoms of COVID-19 in your household or have been advised to self-isolate, you must inform the staff member when you contact us.
For more information about booking for a pick up/ drop off, click the leaflet below.
Pick up and drop off for patients and relatives 11-20
During this time, when families and friends are not able to visit their loved ones in hospital, we have set up a dedicated ‘Sending Hugs’ service so you can send your loved one get well wishes with a letter and a couple of photos.
We can also supply and send your loved one a greetings card with a message of your choice.
Our team of volunteers will deliver these to the wards.
Upon receipt of your request our team of volunteers will:
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print your letter and laminate any photographs OR
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print your e-card or hand write one
If you would like to make a request, please email virtualvisiting@anhst.nhs.uk attaching the letter and photographs.
You can design your card using this website. Once finished, email it to the above address we will print it off for you and send it to your loved one.
If you are not able to send us an email, please phone 07769 165466
You must provide your loved one’s (the patient’s) full name, date of birth and ward they are staying on.
There is no charge for any of our service, however any donations to the Care for Airedale campaign are greatly appreciated.
With You 
We are delighted to be taking part in a pilot project with charity, Trigger Stuff.
Would you like to send your loved one voice messages to listen to whilst they are in hospital?
With You is a free messaging service that anyone can use to create and send voice messages to a loved one in care.
How it works:
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Visit the website and create an account
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Get a unique pin and phone number
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Share the number and pin with family and friends encouraging them to leave messages of hope and positivity
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Review and edit your messages and create one audio track
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Email the track directly to your loved one if they have their own device to listen to it
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The hospital has headphones available for use
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If your loved one is staying with us on ICU, we can arrange to play the track to your loved one on a device available on the ward. Contact the ICU directly if you’d like to arrange this
