Visiting our hospital 

An Essential Visitor includes:

• nominated labour support person
• nominated parent/guardian of an admitted child (including a neonate/start of life)
• nominated guardian/carer for a patient living with a disability
• patient support person if they have a significant impact on clinical care and outcomes for a patient, for example assisting with care of a patient with dementia
• support person (spouse, partners and other significant others) for someone who is critically ill
• end-of-life support person
• accompanying essential visitor into an emergency department
• up to 2 visitors per patient in an emergency circumstance (not an emergency department presentation)
• designated guardian attending an outpatient, home or community-based appointment.

The checklist below outlines the four steps to gaining entry to our hospitals. Full information about each of these steps is provided following the checklist.

Table 1: Visitor checklist

You will be asked a series of questions about your health and of any visits to known exposure locations. It is important you answer the questions truthfully.

Mandatory Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) is required for visitors to the following areas

• Critical Care Unit
• Neonatal Unit
• Haematology/Oncology
• Maternity
• Emergency Department

Any unvaccinated essential visitors will also be required to have a RAT.

If you have had COVID-19 in the eight weeks prior to your planned admission date please contact your consultant to make sure that he/she is aware of this.

There are a few ways you can show proof of your COVID-19 vaccination (external site), both in a digital and paper-based form. You must have at least a double dose of the COVID-19 vaccination if you are 16 years and older.

You are strongly encouraged to prepare well in advance to avoid delays or being declined entry. Please note that proof of COVID-19 vaccination status is for visitors only.

Unvaccinated essential visitors

If you are an essential visitor, we recognise there will be occasions essential visitors will not be fully vaccinated. In these circumstances, the essential unvaccinated visitor will:

• need to wear a mask at a minimum, but this may extend to other PPE depending on need
• be met and escorted to and from the patient’s room
• not visit other patients or common areas of the hospital, such as cafeterias
• follow the direction and advice of staff at all times
• be required to undergo a rapid antigen test (RAT) if entering high risk areas or visiting vulnerable patients, with a RAT every third day for long term regular visitors.

You will be given a new surgical mask to wear upon entry to the hospital and this must be worn at all times (in line with the State Government mandate).

When disposing of masks please remember to break the cords and place in a bin. Practice hand hygiene immediately after disposing of the mask.

Current visiting times are:

• 10am to 12pm
• 5pm to 7pm
• seven days per week.

Essential visitors and visitors to Critical Care may visit outside standard visitor hours.

Visitors are expected to behave in a manner appropriate to the wellbeing of all patients and hospital staff. Abuse of any kind will not be tolerated.

Essential visitors

Emergency Department
One (1) accompanying essential visitor. No standard visitors permitted in the Emergency Department.

Maternity
One (1) birthing partner can be present during and immediately following birth, and/or for critical decisions regarding care. The birthing partner must have a negative RAT screening result to visit the hospital. Pregnant women are advised to identify an alternate birthing partner in the event their preferred partner screens positive for COVID-19.

Neonates, paediatrics and patients with a disability
May have one essential visitor present 24/7. Please note a second visitor may attend during visiting hours but only one visitor may be at the bedside at any one time.

Medical emergency
On a case-by-case basis, but only up to two (2) visitors per patient

Outpatient
No visitors unless a parent or guardian is required. The support person can be on speaker phone or video call during the appointment, especially for critical clinical decisions

Compassionate grounds
On a case-by-case basis as agreed.

End of life
Additional visitors are permitted for patients at end of life on the approval of the hospital’s Executive.

Other visitors            

Patients other than those who need an essential visitor may now have a maximum two (2) visitors in the morning and two (2)) in the evening during set visiting hours: 10am-12pm AND 5pm-7pm daily.

To manage the screening process the hospital has limited visitor entry points to:

• Public hospital reception
• Private hospital reception
• Wanneroo Wing and Mental Health Unit
• Medical Centre West.

All other doors into JHC are swipe-access only and not for use by the general public.