Visiting times and guidance

Visiting patients on wards

A maximum of two people may visit patients on both adult and children's wards at any one time. The exception to this is our maternity wards, where one person can visit during the day, and one person at night. Details of visiting times and who can visit are on our visiting times page.

Please do not visit if:

  • You have respiratory symptoms/Covid-19 symptoms
  • you have recently been in close contact with someone who has had Covid-19
  • you have vomited or had diarrhoea within 72 hours.

Accompanying patients in our Emergency Departments

In our adult Emergency Departments (ED) patients can be accompanied by one person. At times when the number of patients in our EDs is high, visitors will be kindly requested to give up seats and space for patients.

In our children's Emergency Departments, two parents or carers may accompany their child. However, when the department is very busy, we may ask one parent or carer to leave to make space for patients.

Accompanying patients to appointments

If you would like to have someone with you during your outpatient appointment, please bring one person only. In children's outpatients, two parents or carers may accompany their child.

Visiting times at University Hospital Lewisham

Adult inpatient ward areas

  • Visiting times run from 3pm to 8pm.
  • Two visitors are allowed at a time unless exceptional circumstances apply and agreed by the nurse or midwife in charge.

Areas with special visiting arrangements

The following areas have special visiting arrangements in place to meet the specific needs of the patients being cared for:

  • Intensive Care Unit (ICU): 10am to 12 midday and 4pm to 8pm
  • High Dependency Unit (HDU): 10am to 12 midday and 4pm to 8pm
  • Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU): Parents can visit at any time
  • Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU): Parents can visit at any time
  • Paediatrics (Children’s Wards): Parents can visit at any time
  • Maternity - Anderson Delivery Suite: 24 hour visiting
  • Acute Assessment Unit (AAU) - 1pm to 8pm
  • Maternity wards – You can only be visited by one person each day, and one person each night. If you wish, the person at night can be different to the one who came in during the day. Up to three siblings may visit their new brother or sister at any one time between 4pm and 7pm. They must be supervised at all times by a responsible adult – not the new mother or birthing person. No other children may visit our maternity wards.
  • In our Emergency Departments (A&E) patients may only be accompanied by one person.

Visiting guidelines

  • Visitors are limited to two per bed
  • We ask visitors not to sit on beds to help us with infection control 
  • Please check with the Ward Manager if you would like children to visit you while in hospital
  • If children do visit, please encourage them not to sit or crawl on the floor or disturb other patients.

Visiting times at Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Adult inpatient ward areas

  • Visiting times run from 3pm to 8pm.
  • Two visitors are allowed at a time unless exceptional circumstances apply and agreed by the nurse or midwife in charge.

Areas with special visiting arrangements

The following areas have special visiting arrangements in place and are specific to the needs of the unit:

  • Intensive Care Unit (ICU): 12 midday to 5pm and 6pm to 7.30pm
  • High Dependency Unit (HDU): 12 midday to 5pm and 6pm to 7.30pm
  • Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU): Parents can visit at any time
  • Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU): Parents can visit at any time. Other visitors can visit at anytime but must be accompanied by a parent.
  • Paediatrics (Children’s Wards): Parents can visit at any time
  • Oncology (cancer): any time
  • Maternity - Delivery Suite: (Labour Ward): any time


Maternity wards: 

You can only be visited by one person each day, and one person each night. If you wish, the person at night can be different to the one who came in during the day.  

Your visitor can be a partner, support person, friend or relative. Up to three siblings may visit their new brother or sister at any one time between 4pm and 7pm. They must be supervised at all times by a responsible adult – not the new mother or birthing person. No other children may visit our maternity wards.

Limiting the number of people coming into our maternity wards helps to keep patients, babies and staff safe. 

Emergency Department (A&E):

Patients may only be accompanied by one person.

Visiting guidelines

  • Visitors are limited to two per bed
  • We ask visitors not to sit on beds to help us with infection control 
  • Please check with the Ward Manager if you would like children to visit you while in hospital
  • If children do visit, please encourage them not to sit or crawl on the floor or disturb other patients.