We’re planning longer visiting hours

We are proposing to extend visiting times in adult wards across the hospital and are asking for feedback from patients, their families, carers and members of the public in Medway and Swale.

To make it easier for families, carers and visitors to spend time with patients while they are in hospital, we are planning to extend visiting hours from 8am to 8pm across most inpatient areas (most adult wards are currently 1pm to 8pm).

There will continue to be flexible arrangements in some specialist areas, such as Maternity, Intensive Care Unit and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Paediatrics (childrens’ wards), to reflect the needs of the patients. Special arrangements are also made, and will continue to be made, for any patients receiving End of Life care.

Sarah Vaux, Interim Chief Nursing Officer, said: “We know that being around family, friends and their own carers helps our patients recover more quickly, by supporting their personal care, encouraging them to get up out of bed and dressed and generally providing company and familiar faces, which boosts wellbeing. We believe extending visiting hours in this way will offer families more flexibility and ultimately improve the hospital experience for everyone involved.”

A short survey is now open to find out what patient, families, carers and people from Medway and Swale think of the plans. All feedback is important to us, as part of our ‘patient first’ approach.

The survey will take less than five minutes to complete. Please let us know your views by 23 February 2025. All feedback will be considered before a final decision is made in March.

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