Visiting public hospitals during COVID-19

The safety and welfare of people in our hospital and health services during COVID-19 pandemic means there are some restrictions for visitors.

The below visitor guidelines have been developed to protect staff, patients and visitors.

The below restrictions are a guideline online. Check with the individual hospital or health service for local visitor information before you visit.

Physical distancing requirements will mean that the maximum number of allowed visitors is not always possible in areas.

Visitor restrictions

Visitors should not enter a hospital or residential care facility if they have :

• a temperature higher than 38 degrees Celsius, fever, chills or symptoms of acute respiratory infection in the preceding 72 hours
• been a known contact with a person who has a confirmed case of COVID-19 (unless appropriate PPE was worn)
  
• tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 14 days
• been to a specified location, and are subject to the relevant level 1, level 2, level 3, level 4, level 5 or level 6 requirements as outlined in the Cross Border Travel Direction.

Adult patients

Hospital inpatients

Maximum of two visitors per day, during established visiting periods.

Outpatients and Emergency

Maximum of two visitors may accompany a patient to an Emergency Department or a hospital based outpatient appointment provided physical distancing can be maintained.

Maternity patients

Delivery and postnatal wards

Maximum of two visitors may attend with a woman in labour, and in the ward environment.

Outpatients and Emergency

Maximum of two visitors may accompany a patient to an Emergency Department or a hospital based outpatient appointment, provided physical distancing can be maintained.

Paediatric patients

Inpatients

Maximum of two visitors per day, during established visiting periods.

Neonates/Neonatal ICU patients

Maximum of two visitors are allowed to visit at one time, per day, if the two visitors are part of the same household.

Outpatients and Emergency

Maximum of one visitor may accompany a patient to an Emergency Department or a hospital-based outpatient appointment.

Palliative, end of life or critically unwell patients

A maximum of two visitors are allowed to visit at one time, per day, if the visitors are part of the same household.

In the terminal phase of a terminal illness the Local Health Network (LHN) has the discretion to determine the appropriate visitor numbers for compassionate reasons, considering the environment and ability to physically distance.

Communal spaces in ward areas are to be kept free of visitors.

A maximum of two visitors for critically ill patients (including neonatal) at any time, if the visitors are part of the same household. More than one pair may visit in the same day if clinically appropriate at the discretion of the LHN.

Residential Aged Care Facility

A resident of a Residential Aged Care Facility (RACF) with more than 70% of its residents who have had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, is not limited to a number of care and support visits per day.

A resident of a RACF with less than 70% of its residents who have had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, may have one care and support visit of two persons or two separate visits from one person, per day.

For more information see the Aged Care – COVID-19 page.