Visiting restrictions are constantly under review. In order to maintain safety and provide fair access to visiting for everybody we are only able to allow visiting for one approved family member for one fixed 1 hour session each day. An appointment must be pre-booked with the unit before you come to the hospital site.
Telephone enquiries
We welcome telephone enquiries, but would ask that you nominate one family member to make these calls and then feed back to the rest of the family and friends. This gives the nurse more time to care for your relative.
Please note: It is hospital policy not to give out specific patient information over the phone. Therefore the information you will be given will be minimal.
We would appreciate if all mobile phones are put on silent before entering the unit and that calls are not taken in the clinical area.
Children visiting Critical care
Having children to visit their parent or a close relative in Critical Care is a personal decision. If the child decides they want to go into the ICU, it would helpful to prepare them for what they might see, including the machines, what they do and how the patient might look.
What you can tell the child will depend on their age and why their parent or relative was taken into the ICU. You can help a child deal with the situation by:
- trying to keep to their routine as much as possible (including school trips, seeing friends and going to after-school clubs if the child wants to);
- making sure the child is looked after by someone they know, so they can feel safe at a difficult time;
- telling the school, and any other relevant groups, that the child’s parent or relative is in intensive care; and
- explaining the situation and being honest if you don’t know what is going to happen – if you are not sure, try to say something they can understand that will help the child feel secure and reassured, for example, ‘Daddy is very ill but the doctors are doing everything they can to help him’.
We do have books for children – please ask your nurse if you would like one.
Accommodation
It may be possible for the hospital to provide emergency accommodation, for two nights, for a limited number of relatives when their family member is first admitted to ICU. Rooms are allocated on a daily basis and the nurse in charge will ask you if you require a room.
Please note: You are not guaranteed a room or you may have to share your room with another relative. You cannot leave your belongings in the room. If there is a room available for your use you will be informed by the nurse in charge. Keys must be returned to main reception by 11.00 am the following morning.
Due to health and safety reasons, we cannot allow you to sleep in the relative’s room overnight.
A list of local accommodation is available from the ward clerk.
Car parking
Car parking can be very expensive at Addenbrookes and often spaces are limited.
Where possible, please use the park and ride scheme or public transport. We are able to offer one weekly concessionary ticket per patient, usually to the next of kin; these can be obtained by asking the nurse in charge. If your relative is likely to be in hospital for some time, other family members may be able to purchase additional concessionary parking tickets which a can also be obtained from the main reception.
Patient valuables
When your relative is admitted, the nurses will write an inventory of your relative’s property. Any valuables or money will be deposited for safekeeping. You may be asked to take home other items such as clothing etc. Unfortunately there is always a risk of property getting lost or damaged within the hospital. Please don’t bring any valuables.