Visitors


Please do not visit the hospital if you are feeling unwell with cold or flu like symptoms or vomiting and diarrhoea.

If you have tested positive for coronavirus and have a scheduled appointment, please call the clinic before attending so any necessary arrangements can be made.

What we ask when you visit:

  • Please wash your hands on arrival at the hospital, throughout your visit and when you leave or use the hand sanitiser provided.
  • Please bring as few personal belongings with you as possible.
  • Please do not eat or drink whilst on our wards.
  • Please do not use the patient toilets. Public facilities are available away from the wards and clinics.
  • Please do not wander around the ward or interact with other patients.
  • Face masks are required in some areas of the hospitals to protect clinically vulnerable patients. These areas are clearly marked. Please wear a facemask whenever you are asked to do so by a member of our hardworking team.

Visiting a patient

General visiting guidelines

  • Two visitors can visit each patient between 11.30am and 7.30pm each day. If you need to make arrangements out of this time please contact the ward directly.
  • ‘Open visiting’ for patients who are on end-of-life care, require a carer or have additional needs (such as a mental health condition or dementia).
  • Parents are permitted to accompany children under the age of 18.
  • Please be aware that children under five are not routinely allowed to visit unless there are special circumstances. If you are unsure, please speak to the Ward Manager.

Visiting the Emergency Departments

  • Patients attending the Trust’s Emergency Department, Same Day Emergency Care and Emergency Assessment Unit (EAU) units can have one adult accompany them. However, it is important to note that this will be reviewed if the department is crowded. If you can come alone, please do so.
  • Visiting hours for the Emergency Assessment Unit (EAU) are from 1pm to 7pm, 7 days a week, with one visitor at a time. If relatives or carers would like to visit outside of these hours for exceptional circumstances, please contact the EAU and speak to the nurse in charge.

Visiting our maternity department

  • Birthing partners are permitted to attend through pregnancy, birth and postnatal care.
  • A maximum of two birthing partners per patient (only one partner in theatre) in the Sherwood Birthing Unit, and a maximum of four visitors per patient in the maternity department. Birthing partners may also stay overnight with the patient.

Visiting paediatrics - Ward 25

  • Two visitors can visit each patient. Parents, carers and siblings can visit at any time. Other relatives or visitors can visit between 11.30am and 7pm.

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

  • Two visitors can visit each patient. Parents, carers and siblings can visit at any time. Other relatives or visitors can visit between 1pm and 7pm. No under 16s, unless they are a patient's sibling.

We are a smokefree Trust

Smoking tobacco and cigarettes at all Sherwood Forest Hospital sites is not permitted. This applies to all patients, visitors and staff. Please do not smoke anywhere inside or outside of our hospital buildings.

The use of e-cigarettes is permitted on our sites. Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) can be made available to you free of charge to help you become smokefree.

Help and support to stop smoking

Our clinical team can support you to stop smoking during your stay with us.

For free help and support to stop smoking, visit the Smokefree website or call their free National Helpline on 0300 123 1044 to speak to a trained, expert adviser. All lines are open Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm and Saturday and Sunday 11am to 4pm.

Respect for people during your visit


We are an inclusive employer and we are proud of our highly skilled colleagues, who have a range of diverse backgrounds. We also care for a diverse group of patients. We do not tolerate physical or verbal abuse, or any form of discrimination towards our staff or patients. This includes, but is not limited to, racism, homophobia, anti-religion and sexism. We will robustly manage any such incidents and, where appropriate, will involve the police.