Patients at Headwaters Health Care Centre are now afforded visitors.
Headwaters Hospital defines these ‘essential visitors’ as ‘a person who provides personal, social, psychological, emotional and physical support, enable process of care and patient flow; and discharge from hospital.’
Each patient will only be allowed two essential visitors and they will be subject to strict rules.
These include:
• Patients who are admitted, must have visits scheduled with the care team based on guidance
for eligibility and frequency of visit.
• Patients who are attending outpatient appointments, will be asked if they require an essential
visitor at the time of booking their appointment/treatment. Only 1 designated essential visitor
can attend the appointment with the patient.
• Each inpatient can only have one essential visitor per one hour visiting block (scheduled by the
care team).
• The essential visitor will be restricted from moving freely around the hospital.
• All essential visitors will be screened at the entrances. If screening is failed, the essential visitor
will not be allowed to enter the hospital.
• All visitors who fail the screening will be given further advice for testing and monitoring.
• All visitors are encouraged to wear their own masks when entering the hospital. If they do not
have a mask they will be provided with one.
• All visitors are expected to follow hand hygiene protocols and wear PPE when required.
• Visitors do not have in/out privileges and must proceed to the area where they are
visiting/supporting the patient.
• Visitors will be educated, encouraged and supported with hand hygiene protocols and
donning/doffing of personal protective equipment (PPE) when required.
• Staff will provide timely updates to the patient and designated essential visitor and address any
questions or concerns.
• Staff will help visitors facilitate communication between patients and essential visitors/family
using their personal devices or bedside telephones.
• Each area will take responsibility for ensuring visitors are identified and visitors will be signed in
and out of the visitor’s log.
• We have an appeals process, within our Patient Visitation Policy and Procedures available on
our website.
President and CEO, Kim Delahunt says “We know the importance of essential visitors to the well-being of patients in our care. We look forward to welcoming essential visitors and thank everyone in advance for their support, patience and understanding as we work through this new process.”
