CORONAVIRUS INFORMATION

Changes to visitor guidance across Sherwood Forest Hospital sites

Sherwood Forest Hospitals has reviewed its visitor guidance to allow more friends and family members to visit loved ones across the trust’s King’s Mill, Newark and Mansfield Community Hospitals:​

• Two visitors can visit each patient between 11.30am and 7.30pm each day
• No visiting for COVID positive patients unless end of life or in compassionate circumstances
• ‘Open visiting’ for patients who are on end-of-life care, require a carer or have additional needs (such as a mental health condition or dementia)
• Birthing partners are permitted to attend through pregnancy, birth and postnatal care
• Parents are permitted to accompany children under the age of 18

Patients attending the Trust’s Emergency Department, Same Day Emergency Care and Emergency Assessment Unit (EAU) units are asked to attend alone to reduce overcrowding unless they are under 18 or require a carer.

The relaxation of guidance for visitors will be reviewed if Covid cases increase within either the trust’s sites or the local community.

The Trust’s staff appreciate the continued support and understanding of staff, patients and visitors as they continue to work hard throughout the pandemic.

Respect for people during your visit

We are an inclusive employer and we are proud of our highly skilled colleagues, who have a range of diverse backgrounds. We also care for a diverse group of patients. We do not tolerate physical or verbal abuse or any form of discrimination towards our staff or patients. This includes, but is not limited to, racism, homophobia, anti-religion and sexism. We will robustly manage any such incidents and, where appropriate, will involve the police.

Our current facemask policy for patients and visitors
We are continuing to ask patients, staff and visitors to wear facemasks in some areas of our hospitals to protect themselves and others from COVID.

Areas where you need to wear a facemask are clearly signposted with red ‘you are in a high-risk area’ posters (pictured left). Please also wear a facemask whenever you are asked to do so by a member of our hardworking team.

Facemasks continue to be made available in all areas of our hospitals for those who feel more comfortable wearing them. Please continue to treat everyone who chooses to wear a facemask with respect – whatever their reasons for doing so may be.

Patient appointments

We continue to prioritise urgent and emergency care and cancer treatments and we will do everything we can to avoid delaying care. If we need to take the difficult decision to delay appointments, we will contact affected patients directly to let them know. 

If you do not hear from us, please attend as requested in your appointment letter.

Maintaining your safety is a top priority for us while planning and providing your care and treatment. 

For the latest information on the COVID-19 vaccination, please visit the NHS website.

Sherwood Forest Hospitals’ Family Liaison Service has provided an important link between patients and their family, friends and carers since the summer of 2020 when visiting restrictions were in place due to the pandemic.

The team of 10 volunteers, who are supported by the Community Involvement team, can assist with video or phone calls, as well as the delivery of items dropped off at hospital sites. This can include letters, cards, messages, photos and non-valuable personal belongings such as toiletries and clothing.

Volunteers can help with technical issues such as connecting to Wi-Fi and charging phones or tablets. They can also arrange for patients to use a bedside phone, or support patients to write messages.  

Items can be dropped off items for patients at the Community Involvement Hub in the main entrance of King’s Mill Hospital or the main reception desk at Newark Hospital on Mondays to Fridays (excluding bank holidays) from 8am to 5pm. Belongings must be in a disposable bag, no larger than a pillowcase, clearly labelled with the patient’s name, date of birth and ward.

You can also email sfh-tr.familyliaisonservice@nhs.net or call 01623 676189 for King’s Mill and Mansfield Community hospitals and 01636 685692 for Newark Hospital.  

For urgent assistance out of hours, please contact the switchboard on 01623 622515 who will transfer you to the ward.

Public wellbeing
It is not unusual to find it difficult to cope with a diagnosis of a physical health problem (whether long term or short term) and to find it hard to adjust to life afterwards. For more wellbeing resources click here.

Staff wellbeing
A variety of helpful guides and tools to support you, your team and your family's wellbeing during this difficult time is available here.