Attending Appointments
This guidance relates to hospital appointments and scans and not routine antenatal appointments in GP practices and health centres where women should continue to attend unaccompanied.
Please attend appointments on your own to help maintain physical distancing and avoid overcrowding in waiting areas. If you have been driven to the hospital please ask friends or family members to drop you off and return to pick you up later or wait for you in the hospital car park. This is particularly important in the Emergency Department, Outpatient Department, X-ray Department and Minor Injuries Unit as these areas can be very busy.
However, if thought essential, one dedicated person can attend with a patient. Examples of situations where this might be important include, but are not restricted to:
- when a person may have difficulty understanding what treatment or course of action a clinician is discussing
- where a person has dementia, a learning disability or autism
- where a person is receiving bad news or information that is potentially life-changing
- where a person is receiving a cancer diagnosis or discussing cancer treatment options
- when a pregnant woman attends an appointment in any setting including an obstetric ultrasound (this would be a birth partner in most instances)
- where a person is distressed or stressed
In addition, consideration should also be given as to whether a family member or supporting person can attend a consultation virtually, for example, via an electronic platform or by phone, if a relative or friend cannot attend in person. There may also be occasions where more than one accompanying person is required e.g. translator, mobility support.
Preparing for an operation
Patients must strictly follow the national public health guidance on physical distancing, wearing face coverings and, in particular, reduce their social contacts/interactions for 10 days before surgery and self-isolate for 3 days before their operation.
If you receive an appointment for a Covid-19 vaccine for during this 10-day period you should call the local Covid-19 vaccination helpline on 0800 130 3120 to reschedule your appointment. Ideally your vaccine should be given more than ten days before your surgery or one week after.
For further information and advice see the Pre-surgery Advice and Guidance.
Visiting Arrangements
Most patients can have one visitor to provide support while they are in hospital (see details of maternity and neonatal visiting below). This could be a family member or friend identified by the patient, their guardian, carer or power of attorney.
Visiting should be arranged with the care team looking after your loved one and pre-arranged appointments should be organised in advance to ensure the number of people in wards and clinical area at any one time is limited and visitors are able to maintain a safe physical distance.
Visitors may be asked to stagger visits or limit the length of their visit to help keep staff and patients safe. They will also be asked to provide their contact details to assist Public Health Test & Protect colleagues, if required.
For further information and advice see the local Visiting Guidance and the Scottish Government’s national guidance.
Covid-19 testing for visitors
To help keep everyone safe, visitors are also encouraged to have a voluntary Lateral Flow Test prior to visiting and then undertake these tests twice per week for as long as they are the named visitor. Rapid Lateral Flow tests are now available to everyone in Scotland and can be ordered online or collected from Covid-19 community test centres in the afternoon or early evening. This is an optional additional safety measure and is not mandatory in order to visit.
Visitors must not attend if they
- Are feeling unwell
- Have a new or continuous cough
- Have had sickness or diarrhoea within the last 48 hrs
- Have had a temperature or fever
- Have experienced any change to your normal sense of taste or smell
- Are self isolating because you have been in contact with someone with suspected or confirmed Covid-19
Maternity and Neonatal Visiting
Women attending the Maternity Unit can be accompanied by one visitor when attending all scans and antenatal appointments. One essential visitor (usually the birth partner) can visit whilst they are in hospital on either the antenatal or postnatal ward. Women in labour can be accompanied by one birth partner.
When visiting the Neonatal Unit, only parents or named care giver can visit. There are no time restrictions for visiting and refreshments are provided.
We would kindly ask you not to bring children with you to the hospital or an outpatient appointment unless necessary and this would require prior discussions. Birth partners must remain within the ward area with their partners or whilst visiting within the Neonatal Unit, and are not permitted to visit other areas within the hospital. We also request that no gifts, flowers or balloons etc are brought into the hospital during visiting to limit the risk of transmission.
In Labour
We recognise that pregnancy and birth are really important times for you and your family and we will support your individual birth choices with high quality, tailored care which is centred around your individual needs. Our dedicated midwives, doctors, maternity healthcare assistants and support staff are committed to giving you personalised care of the highest standard.
At the present time women in labour can be accompanied by a birth partner (as an essential visitor), in the Labour Suite or Alongside Midwifery Unit (AMU), subject to the need to maintain physical distancing wherever possible. They can stay with you in the postnatal period whilst you remain in the Labour ward /AMU.
Health & Safety Guidance
Face Coverings
All patients and visitors should wear a face covering when they attend hospital in line with national guidance. If you don’t have your own then you will be provided with a face mask to wear however it would be helpful if you could bring your own if possible to help maintain local supplies.
Hand Sanitiser
There will be hand sanitiser gel stations/dispensers at main entrances and outside wards so please stop and use the alcohol gel to help protect yourself and others.
Shops, Toilets & Food Outlets
The restaurant at Forth Valley Royal Hospital is not currently open to the public.
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