For patients, hospital is a place for treatment and recovery. Keep this in mind when planning your hospital visit. Before you leave home, check with the hospital to make sure the patient is well enough to see you.

Patients may also be away from their room during the day for tests and other treatment or therapies. Knowing this in advance means you will not make the trip to the hospital only to be refused entry or to have a long wait to see the patient.

Some hospitals and wards restrict how many patients can visit at one time to make sure the patient does not become too tired and that the ward is not too busy. You may have to wait until other visitors leave before you can see the patient. Where possible, coordinate visits with others, such as family members.

When you arrive at the hospital, go to the main administration area and ask the receptionist to direct you to the patient’s room. The administration area is usually near the main entrance. If you know which ward or floor the patient is on, you can go directly there. Check at the nursing station or ward reception if it is okay to visit the patient and find out which room they are in.

Some hospitals ask that all visitors clean their hands when they first arrive. This is to avoid bringing infections such as bacteria and viruses into the hospital environment where sick patients are highly susceptible to infection.

Ariana Medical Complex have waterless hand-wash pumps for this reason, but even with these measures in place, it is in everyone’s best interest to stay away from the hospital if you are unwell.

Wash your hands when you leave the hospital to avoid taking infection with you.

Decide how you will get to the hospital. If you are catching public transport, work out the best route and how long the journey will take. Give yourself plenty of time to allow for delays.

If you are driving, work out your route, journey time, parking options and costs ahead of time. For example, Ariana Medical Complex have car parks, Parking at Ariana Medical Complex costs  40 AF one time for single entry. Where possible, use public transport when visiting someone in hospital.

Before you buy a gift, consider the hospital’s policy on what you can and cannot bring into the ward. For example, at many hospitals, pot plants are not permitted in surgical or high-dependency wards. Flowers are usually allowed in all areas except the intensive care unit (ICU), and hospitals may also have restrictions on food. Alcohol is not allowed in hospital.

If you decide to bring flowers, think about also bringing a vase or a container, to make sure that there is one available. It is not the role of nursing staff to look after a patient’s flowers.

Call the hospital or visit its website to see if there are any restrictions on what you can bring into the ward.

There are a number of things you can do to consider the patient you are visiting, hospital staff and other patients, which include:

• Check that the patient is happy for you to visit before you make the journey to the hospital.
• The person you are visiting may be sharing a room, so it is important to consider the needs of other patients during your visit. Limit your noise when you are in the ward and the patient’s room.
  
• It is important to remember that nursing staff are there to attend to patients’ medical needs, not the needs of visitors.
• There may be times during your hospital visit when the patient needs some temporary privacy, such as when a doctor or nurse needs to administer treatment. You may need to step out of the room or come back at another time.
• If you bring children, make sure you properly supervise them and that they do not disturb other patients and hospital staff.
• Smoking is not permitted in Ariana Medical Complex.
• Some people find it a shock to see a loved one recovering from surgery or a procedure. They may look pale and unwell, and be hooked up to machines. Be prepared for this when you visit and try to focus on their treatment and recovery.
• Respect the rules and policies of the hospital, be courteous to hospital staff and other patients, and respect the wishes of the patient.
• Remember that the patient may be feeling low and your visit is likely to be an important and happy distraction.

Information desk and Hospital staff