Visitors & visiting hours

New visitor arrangements at Alfred Health

Following the easing of restrictions, we are reintroducing visitors to our hospitals for essential visits only. These changes apply from Wednesday, 2 December 2020.

We appreciate the ongoing support from our community as we continue to keep our hospitals safe for our patients and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As an extra precaution following the recent South Australian outbreak, we will ask visitors at Entry Point Screening stations if they (or any people they live with) have visited South Australia in the last 14 days, and if they have been notified as a close contact, or visited any of the hotspot locations.

For our general wards:

• Two visitors per day, either one visitor for two hours or two visitors (separately) for one hour each
• Visitors under 18 years of age are now permitted
• No time limit on visits to patients in maternity wards
• Visits between 10am - 1pm and 3pm - 7pm.

For our Intensive Care Unit

• Up to four nominated visitors
• One visitor for one hour, and visiting again for a second hour later the same day or two visitors visiting separately for one hour
• Please be aware that all visits are limited to one hour at a time, and the second visit must not immediately follow on from the previous visit
• Nominated visitors will book their visits directly through the visitor coordinator who will screen visitors.
• Visiting hours to ICU are between 11am - 1pm and 3pm - 7pm.

For other wards where patients are particularly vulnerable to infection, special arrangements are in place to ensure patient and staff safety.

For our Emergency Departments: 

• Visitors are permitted in the Emergency Department or Emergency Short Stay Unit under special circumstances only.  
• Visitation will be determined by the Nurse and Doctor in-charge.

As a condition of entry to our hospitals, visitors must: 

• Only visit when essential
• Be screened and checked in at entry before proceeding to the wards
• ​Sign the Visitor Register at the relevant ward reception, on arrival and departure
• Wear masks provided by Alfred Health throughout the visit*
• Maintain physical distance
• Follow staff instructions at all times.

* Do children need to wear a face mask?

As per DHHS advice, children and people aged 12 years and older should wear a face mask when indoors, and outdoors where 1.5 metres distance cannot be maintained. Children under the age of 12 years do not have to wear a face mask but individual families can make their own decisions regarding their children. Children who are two years old and under should never wear a face mask or covering due to choking and strangulation risks. Any child with COVID-19 or suspected COVID-19 should not visit.

Special considerations are in place for visiting, critical, palliative inpatients or those with a complex disability

• Maximum of one person at the bedside at one time from 8am-7pm
• Patients nearing end of life are allowed two visitors at a time, at any time of day

Attending appointments and day treatment areas

• The presence of a carer/support person is permitted when the patient requires assistance with communication, wayfinding, mobility, personal care or behaviour management.