VIP visits
The communications and engagement team co-ordinate all VIP/celebrity visits to Southend Hospital; this includes royal visits and visits/official openings from MPs, celebrities and sports people.
Arranging a visit
Usually the request to visit will come from the communications
team. However, should a celebrity or VIP wish to visit the
hospital or areas within the hospital grounds, requests
should be made by email to communications@southend.nhs.uk,
stating:
- The names of all visitors in the party
- The departments that the visitors wish to attend
- The preferred date(s) and time(s) of the visit
The communications team will liaise with the areas in question
to try and accommodate the request and respond to the request in a
timely fashion.
In the interests of protecting our patients and their families,
a member of the communications team will be present at all
visits.
All visitors and their parties are requested to arrive
at the Lodge to meet with the communications team member before
entering the hospital premises,so that they can be
escorted to the department they are visiting. Please do not
enter wards or clinical areas to visit without a member of the
communications team as you may be asked to leave.
Please note that it is not possible to visit areas of the
hospital without prior arrangement; on the day additions to visits
will generally not be possible.
The number of people visiting our wards will be limited to six
people per group. Requests for additional visitors to the ward will
be at the discretion of the ward manager. This is to ensure the
wards are not overcrowded and to keep disruption to other patients
and their families to a minimum.
Identification
Where appropriate, the trust will provide a suitable formal ID
badge which must be worn and visible for the duration of the
visit.
Infection control
Maintaining patient safety is our priority, and you can help us
prevent the risk of infection when you visit our hospitals by:
- Using the alcohol hand rub before entering and when leaving the
ward (or wash your hands with soap and water)
- Using the chairs provided in clinical areas and not sitting or
lying on beds as this spreads germs.
- Not visiting if you are unwell such as suffering from a heavy
cold or flu, or within three days of an episode of diarrhoea and/or
vomiting.
- Not touching wounds, drips, catheters or medical
equipment.
What to wear
For sports clubs and teams we encourage you to visit in
uniforms/training kits so you are easily recognisable.
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted in the hospital or its grounds. Please
extinguish all cigarettes well before you reach the hospital
site.
Parking
Parking at our hospital is limited, but available in the pay and
display or pay on exit car parks located around the hospital. In
some cases where there is a large party of visitors, e.g. a school
party arriving in a minibus, the communications team may be able to
arrange a parking space.
Our hospital is well served by public transport. For more
information see the 'find us' section of our website.
Media
Please liaise with the communications team if you are arranging
your own media coverage. To minimise disruption on our wards we
encourage filming/photography to take place in one area.
Please also remember that consent will be required from staff,
patients (or parents of minors) and visitors if their photographs
are taken.
The communications team are likely also to take
photographs/video of your visit for our own publications; please
let us know if this is not convenient for you.
Gifts and presents
Although we do not expect gifts and presents to be brought into
hospital, should you wish to do so, please:
- Do not bring flowers onto the ward
- Do not wrap gifts
- Consider that some patients may not be able to have chocolate
and sweets due to their condition, dietary restrictions or for
religious/cultural reasons (if bringing edible gifts).
More information
Please email communications@southend.nhs.uk
if you have any questions.