The safety of patients, visitors and colleagues working on the hospital sites is our absolute priority. If you do need to attend hospital in person we would like to reassure you that every possible infection prevention and control measure is being taken. Your visit will feel different to previous visits, with changes put in place to ensure the safety of everyone.
COVID-19 - ASPH Visiting Restrictions
Due to the increase in cases of Covid-19 and the emergence of the Omicron variant, additional visiting restrictions are now in place at Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals. This is to reduce footfall within our hospital sites and to help minimise the risk of transmission to protect patients and the team. All members of the public, including visitors, must take a lateral flow test no more than 48 hours before entering any of our hospital sites.
Any patients who have a registered carer may have a daily visit of up to 1 hour. This includes the patient groups of learning difficulties and severe dementia. No children or babies will be allowed. There is one slot available every day for each bed/patient. End of life visits continue to be permitted.
There will be no visiting permitted for adult inpatients who do not have a registered carer. Children’s wards, maternity, A&E and ITU are managing the situation locally as highlighted in this graphic.
There is a dedicated telephone line manned by one volunteer for permitted visitors to book a time to see their loved one. The number is 01932 723318. Due to current visiting restrictions, the hours of our visiting booking line will be Monday to Friday, 09:30 - 1600. If any visitors need to book a visiting slot outside of those hours they will need to contact the relevant ward direct.
Ashford hospital will no longer be allowing inpatient visiting, except for main carers visiting patients on Wordsworth Ward and Chaucer Ward, as highlighted above. Please phone 01784 884488 if you are enquiring about a patient.
This situation will be constantly reviewed and further visiting changes may occur depending on Covid-19 incidence within our community and also transmission rates.
Please watch this short video for more information.
Thanks for your support and cooperation.
Andrea Lewis RRC
Chief Nurse
Inpatient Visiting
Ashford hospital will not be allowing inpatient visiting at the moment, except for Wordsworth Ward and Chaucer Ward. Please phone 01784 884488 if you are enquiring about a patient.
Ashford Hospital
| Ward | Type | Location | Direct Dial Number |
| Chaucer Ward | Medical | Ground Floor, Main Entrance |
01784 884003 |
| Surgical | Ground Floor, Outpatients Entrance |
01784 884127 | |
| Dickens Ward | Surgical | First Floor, Main Entrance |
01784 884004 |
| Elliott Ward | Surgical | ||
| Wordsworth Ward | Medical | 01784 884008 |
Click here for access guide to Ashford Hospital or the follow the ward links above.
Wearing Face Masks in our Hospitals
All patients, visitors, and staff are expected to use a new surgical mask issued by the checkpoint teams when they arrive at all hospital sites. If you are wearing your own face covering or mask you will be asked to remove this and use a new mask for the duration of your visit. The mask must cover your mouth and nose and be worn at all times, unless your clinician asks you to remove it.
There are checkpoints by each entrance and you will be asked to use the hand sanitiser provided and have your temperature taken (by a forehead thermometer). On exit, please dispose of the mask in the clinical waste bin provided and sanitise your hands.
It is expected that everyone on the hospital sites wears a mask with the following exceptions, in line with national guidance:
- children under the age of 11 (Public Health England do not recommended face coverings for children under the age of 3 for health and safety reasons)
- people who cannot put on, wear or remove a face covering because of a physical or mental illness or impairment, or disability
- where putting on, wearing or removing a face covering will cause you severe distress
- if you are speaking to or providing assistance to someone who relies on lip reading, clear sound or facial expressions to communicate
Lateral Flow Testing for Members of the Public
We currently have a number of Infection Prevention and Control measures in place within Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals. To help prevent the spread of Covid-19 within our hospitals we ask that all members of the public undertake a lateral flow test no more than 48 hours before coming into the hospital. This is to help keep patients, visitors, and our team as safe as possible.
Other Key Measures
- There are 3 designated entrances:
- Main Entrance – Blood tests, Maternity, Ophthalmology, Infusion Suite
- Outpatients – all outpatient appointments / diagnostics (excl. Ophthalmology).
- Entrance 3 – Radiology (X-ray, ultrasound, CT, MRI, mammography, bone density), Pre-op Assessment, Day Surgery.
- You will be only permitted into the building 10 minutes before your appointment time.
- Please try and attend your hospital visit by yourself. Anyone attending with you is likely to be refused entry to the hospital / asked to wait in the car unless there is a valid reason for them to support you during your appointment.
- Inside each entrance is a ‘screening’ station / checkpoint. You will be asked a series of COVID related screening questions and also have your temperature taken. To avoid a wasted trip on the day please do not attend if you are experiencing a fever, fatigue, cough or sore throat or currently taking antipyretic medication to combat fever (paracetamol / ibuprofen etc).
- If you are attending for a blood test please ensure you have an appointment and you also bring your blood test request form with you on the day.
- If queuing for entry to the hospital, the screening desk, a reception desk or sitting in one of the waiting areas please maintain at least a 2 metre distance from any other patient.
- We have reduced the number of patients booked into each session to allow time for the additional screening measures.
We thank you for your support in following this guidance and in doing so to help keep everyone safe.
Changes to the visiting arrangements for patients at the end-of-life
We have made some changes to the visiting arrangements for patients at the end-of-life. We are now able to accommodate one nominated visitor for up to one hour each day or two nominated visitors on alternate days during a patients stay. The patient must still be referred and reviewed by the Specialist Palliative Care Team prior to visiting, and visits must be pre-arranged each day with the ward nursing team.
