Visiting information

A family-centred approach to care

We welcome and encourage the involvement of loved-ones and the people who matter to our patients. We respect people’s individual needs and will act on an individual basis to ensure the safety, privacy, and dignity of all patients.

Visiting times

We know that spending time with family and friends plays a vital role in wellbeing and recovery. As part of our family-centred approach to care and to support our patients to stay connected with the people who matter most to them, open visiting is in place across our hospitals.

Visitors are welcome daily between 10:30am and 7pm.

Children are also encouraged to visit where appropriate, however they must be supervised at all times and should not visit if unwell.

There will be some exceptions to open visiting in specialist areas such as Intensive Care and the Emergency Department, where visiting arrangements will continue to reflect the clinical needs of patients and operational requirements. Paediatric and maternity services already operate flexible open visiting arrangements.

Visiting guidance

Maximum of two visitors at a time
Visiting may be paused in some circumstances
Staff may adapt visiting arrangements based on patient needs
Infection prevention measures must be followed

Visitors are asked to always follow staff guidance to help maintain a safe, respectful and compassionate environment for patients, families and staff.

Maternity visiting times

Find out more about visiting hours at our maternity units at University Hospital of North Durham and Darlington Memorial Hospital.

Mobiles, photography & social media

When visiting or staying in one of our hospitals, we understand that on occasion you may want to share your experience on social media or take photos. However, it is important to be mindful of the privacy and dignity of others, as well as to follow NHS policies that protect patient confidentiality and maintain a respectful environment.

There are different policies in some of our wards and departments, for example maternity services and intensive care. There will be information in those areas to guide you or please speak with a member of the team if you are unsure. We always appreciate you speaking with the team anyway to check on the guidelines and to inform them of what you would like to capture. Please respect and follow these guidelines:

It’s essential to respect the privacy of all patients and visitors. You must not take photos or videos of anyone without their explicit permission. This includes patients and people in the background of your photos, as even indirect identification is a violation of their privacy.

You should never post information about other patients’ health conditions, treatments, or experiences. This could unintentionally breach patient confidentiality.

Our healthcare professionals are here to care for you and others. If you wish to take a photo that includes any member of staff, always ask for their permission first. Keep in mind that staff may decline to be photographed, and their wishes should be respected.

Please refrain from taking photos or filming medical procedures or staff while they are providing care, as this can distract from their work and invade the privacy of others.

While we value and encourage feedback on your experience and care, there are official and appropriate ways to share you experience online. This may be through the Trust’s Patient Experience Team or the NHS website. Please consider the impact on others of anything you are posting on your own channels. Avoid sharing photos, videos, or content that could compromise the privacy or dignity of others, including patients, staff, or hospital visitors.

Hospitals are places of care. Be considerate of noise levels and the feelings of those around you when using your phone for social media or taking photos.

We place a high priority on patient confidentiality, dignity, and safety. These guidelines ensure that everyone’s privacy is respected and that our hospitals remain professional, caring environments for all patients and staff. By checking with staff and following these rules, you help maintain a supportive and respectful atmosphere for everyone.

Smoking & vaping

We want to provide a safe environment that promotes health and reduces harm from exposure to second hand smoke. All our sites, including all buildings and grounds are completely smoke free and there are no designated smoking areas. If you wish to smoke you will need to leave our hospital grounds to do so.

We know that many people are giving up smoking by switching to e-cigarettes and vapes. The use of e-cigarettes and vapes are therefore permitted on our grounds as long as it is away from other people.

Preventing the spread of infections

The prevention and control of infection is everyone’s responsibility, including staff, patients and visitors. We’re committed to providing high-quality services in a safe, clean environment. We insist that all our staff maintain a high standard of hand hygiene and we encourage our patients and visitors to do the same to protect family, friends and loved-ones.

Hand washing is the most effective way of preventing the spread of germs and even if hands look clean, many germs are still present. By frequently washing your hands with soap and water, you will ensure that your hands are clean and the risk of spreading infection is reduced.

We ask that visitors wash their hands using soap and water:

On arrival to the ward you are visiting
Before touching food, for example if you are helping a relative or friend with their meal
When leaving the ward you are visiting
After using the toilet, changing a nappy or helping your relative or friend to the toilet

We ask that visitors do not do any the following: