Last updated: 20 March 2023
Our visitor guidelines are in place to protect you, your loved ones and our staff.
If you have any questions, feedback or concerns, please speak with a member of our healthcare team, or contact Customer Relations on (03) 9784 7298.
Visiting hours
|
All sites |
10am-12pm and 4-7pm |
|
The Mornington Centre and |
12-3pm and 5-8pm |
Visiting hours for individual speciality areas can be found below.
Visiting principles
The below guidelines apply to all visitors to general inpatient areas of the hospital. Speciality area and special considerations are always in place. Speciality area specifics are noted below.
- All visitors to Peninsula Health sites must register their entry prior to entering any Peninsula Health facility.
- Visitors should not enter the health service if they are feeling unwell or have had a positive test for COVID-19 in the last 7 days.
- Visitors who are COVID-19 positive are not able to enter the health service unless they have an exemption, under exceptional circumstances.
- There is a maximum of two visitors per patient per day, one at a time for unlimited amount of time within visiting hours. Please note; occasionally, there may be a temporary reduction to either visiting hours or visitor capacity to accommodate clinical requirements — please respect our staff during these periods
- Visitors can visit The Mornington Centre and Golf Links Road between the hours of 12-3pm and 5-8pm
- Visitors can visit all other sites between the hours of 10am-12pm or 4-7pm
- Visitors must practice hand hygiene while in our health service
- Visitors under 16 years are permitted entry if they are visiting a patient who has a life-threatening medical condition, is receiving palliative care or if they are a child, grandchild or sibling of a patient. They are not counted in the number of visitors if they are visiting a patient having end-of-life treatment of if they are a child, grandchild or sibling of the patient. A parent or guardian must accompany children
- Visitor permissions will be based on current COVID-19 risk status. When physical presence is not possible, we will offer digital solution for connection and communication, such as video call services
Mask requirements at Peninsula Health
- Visitors aged 18 years and older must wear a surgical mask*
- Visitors aged 8-18 years must wear a face covering*
- Visitors under the age of 8 are not required to wear a face covering.
Exemptions may be granted in extenuating circumstances.
*All visitors may choose to wear an N95 mask
- Visitors unable to wear a mask will only be able to enter under exceptional circumstances such as at the end of life, for a patient with special considerations or a carer staying overnight
- Visitors must keep their mask on at all times, we therefore ask all visitors to refrain from eating and drinking while in our health service
- Visitors may be asked to leave the health service if they remove their mask on-site
By entering our health service, you agree to adhere to the above conditions and understand that if you fail to follow these guidelines you may be asked to leave.
Specialty areas
Children’s Ward:
- Two parents / guardians can visit between 8am – 7pm
- One parent / guardian can remain with their child overnight
- Siblings are generally not permitted however may visit by special arrangement between the hours of 4pm to 6pm
Special Care Nursery:
- Two parents can visit at any time
- Siblings are generally not permitted however may visit by special arrangement between the hours of 4pm to 6pm
Adult Intensive Care Units:
- A maximum of two carers/supporters may visit per day
Palliative/End of life patients and those in life threatening situations:
- Two carers/support visitors may visit at a time
- Visitors must adhere to local requirements regarding visiting times
- Compassionate circumstances will be considered to allow further relaxation of these guidelines. Please speak to the treating team regarding this
Emergency Department
- One person may accompany an adult patient
- Up to two people may accompany a patient under 18 years of age or a patient requiring more than one carer e.g.: a patient with significant disability
Post/Ante Natal
- A partner or support person may visit the ward between 8am – 8pm
- Grandparents of the baby may visit the ward between 10.30am — 12.30pm. Maximum of two grandparents at one time
- Siblings are generally not permitted however may visit by special arrangement between the hours of 4pm to 6pm
Birthing Suite
- Two people may accompany a patient in a birthing suite
Mental Health
- Two visits per patient per day (may require local adjustment based on density requirements)
Chemotherapy Day Units
- One support person may accompany a patient to the pre-treatment education appointment
- Due to limitations affecting physical distancing, we are unable to allow a support person to be present at treatment appointments
- If the patient requires a support person as part of their care requirements, an exception may be made. All cases will be reviewed on an individual basis with the nurse unit manager in charge
Aged Care (Carinya)
Aged Care peak bodies and consumer advocacy organisation have developed visiting guidelines for residential aged care. These guidelines are regularly updated and can be found here Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for people in residential aged care facilities and visitors | Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. If unsure please speak to our staff ay Carinya regarding current visitor guidelines
The Mornington Centre
To protect the safety of our patients, we are asking visitors to The Mornington Centre to please complete a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) before entering the centre. Our concierge staff have RAT tests available.
Special considerations
Special considerations are in place for end of life, where there is a high risk of death in relation to impending treatment or surgery, or where a patient’s condition has been assessed as unstable or deteriorating
- Two visitors at a time may be with the patient within the hours of 8am – 10pm, visiting outside these times must be arranged by the treating team
- The treating team will facilitate all reasonable visitor attendance
Caregivers
Patients with special needs, e.g., disability, delirium, dementia, patients who require carer support, patients requiring language support, and visitors who need to learn home care needs
- These patients may have a carer with them at all appropriate hours, including overnight, if arranged with the treating team.
- This carer will not be counted as one of the total visitor numbers for the day (i.e., the patient may have a further two visitors), but the total visitors at the bedside at any time will not exceed two.