Keeping you safe during your visit is very important and you may notice some changes that we have had to make as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Your support in following these changes will ensure that you and your loved ones are protected. Your support also means that our staff and volunteers can keep well, so they can still be here to give care and support to you and your loved one. Thank you.

Before your visit  

You will already know from the government that anyone experiencing symptoms of the coronavirus should stay at home and self-isolate. Our patients are among the most poorly and this means we must do all we can to minimise the risk.

Help us keep everyone safe by not visiting if you, or any of the people you live with, have any of the following symptoms:  

  • a high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature) 
  • a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual) 
  • a loss of, or change, in smell or taste 

If you have experienced any of these symptoms, please do not visit Mountbatten for a minimum of seven days.

Keeping in contact with your loved one

You will be able to keep in contact with your loved one, even if you cannot visit our hospice and need to stay at home. Our team can offer to support with making video calls, so that you can both see and hear your loved one. If you are unsure about how this works, our team can provide a user guide which gives simple instructions. 

We will do our very best to make sure that we have a staff member and equipment available for you to use this service; please call us first on 01983 529511 so that we can arrange a suitable time.

We are here to support you through this challenging time, which may include talking to someone about the changes to the way you can visit a loved one. You can contact our 24/7 Keep Connected Helpline - at any time of the day or night - on (01983) 533331. We are here to help you through this difficult time.

When visiting a patient

You are welcome to visit at any time of the day, and there is no restriction on how long you can stay. However, your support in ensuring the following steps are taken is really important:  

  • Visitors must enter via the main hospice entrance and apply PPE in the Quiet Room
  • The main doors will remain unlocked unless there is only one person on reception
  • Visitors can only access patients' rooms via the main corridor
  • Visitors should remain in patients' rooms, unless they need to meet with clinicians or access the John Cheverton Centre
  • Only two people at a time may visit a patient in their room and at the nurses' discretion
  • Visitors must remove their apron/gloves in patients' rooms and wash their hands before they leave
  • Masks must be worn by visitors while walking through corridors
  • Quiet/relatives rooms may be used for conversations - our clinicians will be responsible for wiping furniture
  • Visitors can access the John Cheverton Centre via the Chapel corridor

If you are visiting someone who we believe may be approaching the last two to three days of their life, we will be able to make exceptions. Our senior nurse in charge will be able to discuss this with you at the time.

If you have any concerns or questions, please speak to directly to a member of staff, who will be happy to help.