Visiting someone in our care

Visitors play an important part in helping a service user to get well.  It helps with the transition between hospital and home, and gives people a welcome boost when they need it the most.

GMMH have specific visiting times like all hospitals, however as some of our services are provided within a secure environment, we have arrangements in place which may be different to other hospitals that you have visited.

Any visit must be arranged with the clinical team at least 24 hours before you are due to arrive, this must include agreeing a time for and duration of the visit. If the team has not approved your visit or if you arrive without notice, your visit may not go ahead.

Each time you visit, you will need to present at the reception area of the service you are visiting. You will be asked to provide photographic identification and you may have your photograph taken for your visitor’s badge. Visitor’s badges must be worn at all times.

Visitors are expected to leave all personal items such as bags and heavy coats within designated lockers in reception. Any prohibited items including mobile phones will also be placed into lockers.

A list of all prohibited items will be available within our reception areas. This list is not exclusive and is subject to change. You will be asked to declare any items you intend to give your loved one and you may be asked to have your property searched to ensure no prohibited items are contained within it. Staff will check any items before they can be passed over, again to ensure safety. These measures are for the continued safety of our care environments  and refusal may lead to the visit being declined.

Due to health and safety and infection control, home cooked food is not to be brought into our services.

Children visiting the unit

Some services within our Trust do not encourage children to visit. The reason for this is that our service users are both physically and psychologically unwell during treatment and therefore is not an ideal environment for minors.

GMMH however, is aware of the importance for families to have support, and may offer in certain stages of treatment, to spend time off site with their children.

Guidance regarding children visiting services is as follows:

• Only the service users own children can visit.
• All children must be named and information provided about who is caring for them whilst services users are in treatment.
• Any visiting children under 18 years of age must be with an accompanying responsible adult.
• Any children on the unit must stay with the service user at all times.

Only one service user’s children are allowed in the unit at any time. An allocated child visiting room is provided to ensure safety and privacy. The room must be booked with staff for the date and time your child will be visiting. If your child visit is not organised in advance, we are unable to confirm availability of this room; we will endeavour to be accommodating but this may not always be possible.