Visiting Hours

Restrictions due to COVID-19

The World Health Organisation declared COVID-19 a pandemic, meaning the virus is established on all continents (with the exception of Antarctica). We are asking for your understanding that you consider not visiting the hospital unless you are an immediate family member or carer of the patient.

Please note that the Government’s requirement for a minimum of 2 square metres per person in an indoor space.

To ensure the safety and wellbeing of our hospital communities Healthe Care has mandated the following Visitor Restrictions.

• Until 14 days have lapsed from returning or arriving from overseas (flight/cruise), interstate travel (where applicable); AND/OR
• Have been in close contact with a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 in the previous 14 days; AND/OR
• Diagnosed with COVID-19 (unless no longer directed to be self-isolated); AND/OR
• Have a fever (even if mild) or respiratory illness like symptoms (a cough, shortness of breath, runny nose, tiredness and breathing difficulties); AND/OR
• A recent loss of the sense of smell? OR an altered sense of taste? you must follow the advice of the public health authorities AND

DO NOT ENTER THE HOSPITAL OR VISIT OUR PATIENTS FOR 14 DAYS

If you are unwell and require urgent medical attention you should contact your GP or call 000 for an ambulance (this will work even without phone credit).

Visiting Restrictions

The following guidelines apply:

All visitors must:

• Mandatory COVID-19 screening is in place for all persons, prior to being granted entry to the premises.
• Temperature checking has been reinstated until further notice.
• Patients to wear a mask on presentation to the Facility, regardless of Respiratory Symptoms and when outside their room (if tolerated) and where social distancing cannot be maintained.
• Paediatric patients <12 years of age are not required to wear a mask.
• Visitors are required to wear a mask in the Hospital at all times.
• Maintain appropriate hand hygiene and physical distancing practices (1.5m) with one person per 4 square metres.
• No more than two visitors may attend in a 24 hour period. Visitors do not have to be the same visitors for the duration of the patient’s stay. Visitors under 16 can be in addition to the TWO adult visitors, but no more than two at a time.
• Visitors who reside or work in an identified COVID hotspot including the 7 currently listed LGAs must be restricted from the facility - Any exceptions must be approved by the facility executive, and the Visitor must wear a surgical mask the entire duration of their visit.
• All patients must undergo routine pre-admission screening for infectious diseases status. During the admission process, all patients must be temperature checked and COVID-19 screened.

Visiting Hours are restricted to:

• Central Coast Clinic (Mental Health patients)
• 4:00pm - 8:00pm (Monday - Friday)
• 1:00pm - 8:00pm (Saturday/Sunday)

• Medical/Surgical/Rehabilitation wards
• 1:00pm- 8:00pm (Mon-Sun)
• Physical distancing of 4sqm per person should be maintained at all possible between visitors and patients.
• Patients and visitors who reside or work identified hot spots are restricted from visiting all NSW Hospital sites. Any exception will need to be discussed with the Hospital executive (e.g. in the case of an emergency or where treatment or care should not be delayed).

Upon entry to the hospital and during your visit, please practice simple hygiene by:

• Making sure to clean your hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds with soap and water, or use an alcohol-based hand rub
• Cover your nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing with tissue or a flexed elbow AND

Practice physical (social) distancing by:

• Attempting to keep a distance of 1.5 metres (5 feet) between you and other people where possible. If you are required to move closer than 1.5 metres, ensure that the time does not exceed 15 minutes
• Avoid shaking hands, hugging, touching or kissing other people or sharing food
• Avoid close contact with anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms
• Wear a face mask at all times, and after putting it on to cover your nose and mouth, do not touch the front of the mask and remove it using the ear loops or head straps
• Dispose of the used mask into a waste bin and perform hand hygiene with soap and water or alcohol hand rub

We are also encouraging visitors to download the Australian Government’s COVIDSafe app, which is designed to provide early notification of possible exposure.

If you are concerned please contact healthdirect on 1800 022 222 or the Public Health Unit for further information on 1300 066 055.

Save time by pre-screening

Save time on the day of your visit to the hospital, by completing our pre-screening questionnaire on your smart phone at screen.healthe.care/brisbanewaters or by scanning the QR code below: