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Visitors are an important part of the recovery process and are welcome at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital. We ask that all visitors abide by the hospital’s rules, regulations and visitation policy.

The current risk level for visitation is GREEN

The Board of Management of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital is pleased to announce the official resumption of regular visitation to all patient wards.

All times shown below are daily.

General Medical and Surgical Wards,
High Dependency Unit (HDU)

12:00 noon  – 1:00 P.M. &
4:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. daily.

Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) and
Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU)

11:00 A.M – 11:30 A.M.
4:00 P.M. – 4:30 P.M  & 5:30 P.M. – 6:00 P.M. daily.

Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)

12:00 P.M – 12:30 P.M.
4:00 P.M. – 4:30 P.M  & 5:30 P.M. – 6:00 P.M. daily.

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

10:00 A.M – 7:00 P.M. daily.
Parents only

Visiting patients in the Accident and Emergency Department

Visitation to the Accident and Emergency Department remains fluid. As such, a parent, guardian, relative, caregiver or custodian will be allowed to stay with patients who are:

  • minors under the age of 18
  • elderly patients who are
    • at high risk of falling
    • disoriented
    • in need of assistance with regular daily activities such as walking, using the bathroom and eating
  • patients receiving palliative (end of life) care
  • pregnant patients who are in active labour
  • those in the custody of police or prison officers

Visiting for all other patients will continue to be managed in a fluid manner to avoid overcrowding in the department.

When visiting patients at the QEH, please note :

  • The wearing of masks remains mandatory.
  • Children under the age of 16 will not be allowed to visit.
  • In cases of urgencies and emergencies, special permission to visit must be sought through the Nursing Office by calling 436-6450 Ext 6282 or 6283. At all times, COVID-19 safety protocols will be strictly enforced.
  • In the event that you or someone with whom you have been in close contact are experiencing cold or flu like symptoms such as fever, cough, sneezing, runny nose and or shortness of breath, please DO NOT visit the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Providing Patient Updates

In an effort to keep family members abreast of any developments, our nursing staff will provide regular/daily updates on the patient’s condition to one designated member of the family. Additionally, direct communication via telephone or virtually will be facilitated for patients who are able to engage with family and friends via these means.

If you are an out-patient

To further reduce crowding in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital out-patient clinics, out-patients are asked to present to clinic unaccompanied. Only out-patients who are:

  • Minors i.e. children under the age of 18
  • Elderly, who are at high risk of falling
  • Those who require assistance with regular day to day activities such as going to the bathroom or who may be disoriented

may be accompanied by a caregiver or companion.

When attending clinic, it is also recommended that patients update their contact information in order to be notified by the Medical Records Department of any changes to their upcoming appointment, and to facilitate the delivery of medication.

Requesting Appointments : Use this form to request an appointment at the out-patient clinics.

Visiting Accident and Emergency

The staff of the AED stands ready to serve you. However, to ensure the safety and well-being of patients receiving care in the Accident and Emergency Department (AED) and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) at large, persons with cold or flu like symptoms are asked to refrain from visiting. Additionally, please note that in response to the Government of Barbados’ escalation to Stage One of the COVID-19 National Response Plan, the AED will be implementing the following precautionary measures.

  • On arrival at the AED, all patients will be asked routine questions about their recent medical history and some patients may be required to wear a face mask.
    In accordance with international guidelines, asthma patients will be treated with inhalers and spacers and the use of the nebulizer will be reserved for patients experiencing severe asthma attacks. Patients are reminded to bring their personal inhalers and spacers when visiting the AED. Additionally, patients experiencing mild to moderate asthma attacks, slight wheezing, and shortness of breath, and or persistent coughs, are asked to visit their nearest polyclinic and to use their asthma action plan. Further, asthmatics are strongly advised to continue the use of their prescribed maintenance medication as directed by their physician as doing so can prevent an asthma attack.
  • Patients seeking emergency care at the AED are also asked to note that the following visitation restrictions will be in effect. Only minors under the age of 18 and the elderly who are considered to be at high risk of falling, may be disoriented, and those requiring assistance with regular daily activities such as walking, using the bathroom and eating, will be allowed one visitor. For all other AED patients, once found to be coherent, visiting has been discontinued.’
  • In instances where patients have been admitted, but continue to be housed in the AED or the Short Stay Unit, visiting will be facilitated between 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in accordance with the QEH’s reduced visiting hours. Persons are also prohibited from congregating outside of the AED.

The above rules will be strongly enforced.

The public is reminded that though stringent, the implementation of these precautionary measures is to ensure the continued safety of our patients and staff.

Visitors

We encourage patients to stay in touch with relatives directly to keep them updated as phoning the ward can distract nurses and doctors from providing care to the patients. If this is not possible we ask that you nominate one member of the family to act as a liaison with the ward. In the interest of respecting patient confidentiality, we are unfortunately only able to give very limited information over the telephone.

Yes, visiting hours for all units of the hospital are:

  • Medical and Surgical Wards:
    12:00 P.M. – 1:00 P.M
    4:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M.
  • Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU):
    11:00 A.M – 11:30 A.M;
    4:00 P.M. – 4:30 P.M;
    5:30 P.M. – 6:00 P.M.
  • Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU):
    11:00 A.M – 11:30 A.M;
    4:00 P.M. – 4:30 P.M;
    5:30 P.M. – 6:00 P.M.
  • Recovery Room:
    11:00 A.M – 11:30 A.M;
    4:00 P.M. – 4:30 P.M;
    5:30 P.M. – 6:00 P.M.
  • High Dependency Unit (HDU):
    12:00 P.M. – 1:00 P.M
    4:30 P.M. – 6:00 P.M

If you are unable to visit your relative during regular visiting hours please speak with the charge nurse on the Ward as a special provision may be made to facilitate your visit.

The patients in the ICUs, Recovery Room and HDU are very ill. We need to ensure that these patients get the rest they need, and other patients are not disturbed. Research shows that limiting the visitation hours in these areas will allow patients to get more rest and to recover more quickly.

We understand that you may want to find out how your friend or relative is doing. There are many ways you can keep in contact, such as calling the ward, calling your friend or relative directly or writing a letter.

To be a strong advocate, you must be knowledgeable about your loved one’s needs and willing to speak up on his or her behalf. At the QEH, we encourage you to broach sensitive topics and address your questions and concerns with members of the treatment team. Your voice is incredibly important to us.

Up to two visitors are allowed per patient at any one time. This is to ensure that our patients get the rest they need and other patients are not disturbed. However, if there is an infection on the ward, we may restrict this to one visitor per patient.

Complete our customer survey, or, visit our Contact us page to share feedback about your visit or experience as a visitor or patient of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital or, contact us by phone to speak with a medical professional:

Help Desk (Patient Advice & Liaison Service)
Phone : 246-536-4800
(Open 9AM to 9PM daily. Closed on Public Holidays)
Email : helpdesk@qeh.gov.bb

For complaints please contact :

Clinical Risk Management Unit
Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Martindale’s Road
St. Michael

Phone : 246-436-6450 Ext. 6334 or 5234

Contacting your relative or friend

We understand that you may want to find out how your friend or relative is. There are many ways you can keep in contact such as; calling the ward, calling your friend or relative directly, sending an email or writing a letter.

Ways you can keep in touch

  • Calling the ward : You can call the hospital switchboard/PBX and ask for the ward your relative/friend is staying on. If possible, your friend / relative should nominate one person to call the hospital and act as a link for everyone else. This will assist our nursing staff as we care for your relative and other patients. Also, to protect patient confidentiality, only limited information will be provided over the phone.
  • Writing a letter : You can write to your friend /relative in hospital. Please make sure you address the letter or card with their full name, the name of the ward and the correct address of the hospital.

Important information when visiting a patient

We take cleanliness and infection prevention very seriously, but we need your help to keep our infection rates low. Here is how you can help :

  • Infectious illnesses – if you know, or think, that you may have an infectious condition, please contact the relevant ward or department before visiting. If you have an infectious condition such as chicken pox, measles, diarrhoea or vomiting it is suggested that you not visit as these infections could pose a risk to patients/staff and others
  • To reduce the spread of infections we ask you to avoid sitting on hospital beds
  • Hand washing and hand rubbing is essential. There are sanitizing dispensers at the entrance to each ward. Please utilise these dispensers to clean your hands prior to entering and when leaving the ward. Using the hand sanitizer assists with killing any germs on your hands and reduces the risk of introducing infection to patients, relatives, staff, yourself and others
  • Flowers – if you wish to bring or send flowers, please check with ward staff first. Flowers are not allowed in some areas of the hospital as the water in vases can be an infection risk
  • Additional infection control measures – occasionally, patients may be removed from the main ward to be isolated if they are infectious, or susceptible to the transmission of infectious diseases. If this is the case, you must ask nursing staff about any precautions you need to take and whether there are any restrictions to visiting.

Spiritual care

Our multi-faith chapel is opened from 6:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M.
Please note that the use of cell phones and other recording devices are prohibited within the chapel.

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