Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Queensland Government has some extra rules about visiting a hospital.
Visiting hours
Visiting hours are different for each hospital and each ward.
They're usually:
- 10 am to 1 pm
- 3 pm to 8 pm.
There's usually a rest period from 1 pm to 3 pm.
To plan your visit, check the hospital's details for visiting hours and rules.
When visiting your friend or relative, please be mindful of other patients.
Health and hygiene
To help keep our patients and staff healthy, please don't visit if you have an infectious condition such as:
- cough
- cold
- diarrhoea
- vomiting.
Keep your hands clean
Clean your hands with soap and water or a hand sanitiser whenever you go in or out of a room or hospital area. This will help prevent infections from spreading to other people.
Items you can bring for or send to the patient
You can bring or send items like books, magazines and fruit.
Some hospitals do not allow flowers in the wards or other areas. Check with the hospital before bringing or sending flowers.
Raise concerns about a patient's health (Ryan's Rule)
Ryan's Rule is a 3-step escalation process to support patients of any age, their families and carers. It's used to raise concerns if a patient's health condition is getting worse or not improving as well as expected.
Go to the Clinical Excellence Queensland web page Ryan's Rule escalation process.
Following the death of a family member or loved one
We appreciate this will be a difficult time for you, your family and friends. Our deepest sympathies are with you as you grieve for your loved one.
This supporting booklet aims to help answer some common questions you may have but please do not hesitate to ask to see our Social Workers if we can provide you with further support.