Haldimand War Memorial Hospital (HWMH) appreciates the integral role that Essential Care Partners and visitors have in supporting patients and their recovery while in hospital.  HWMH supports visits either in person, via phone or virtually.  All efforts are made to keep all persons that enter HWMH safe from infectious diseases. Policies change based on local epidemiology of infection agents and Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) measures may be adjusted accordingly.

All individuals with any NEW symptoms of ANY infectious illness are asked to stay home when they are feeling sick.

These symptoms may include:

• Fever/Chills
• Cough
• Shortness of Breath
• Decreased or loss of taste or smell
• Extreme fatigue
• Muscle aches/joint pain
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Sore throat
• Runny nose or nasal congestion
• Headache

The flu, COVID-19 and RSV are all very contagious. You can spread these respiratory illnesses for up to 10 days after starting to feel sick. To prevent spread, stay at home until you have no fever and symptoms are improving for at least 24 hours (or 48 hours if you are vomiting and/or experiencing diarrhea).

You should also take extra precautions for 10 days, including wearing a mask in public spaces and avoiding visiting friends and family who are at higher risk of serious illness.

Follow this advice for any respiratory illness.

Visiting the Inpatient Unit

Do Not visit if you are experiencing any of the above symptoms.  The hospital puts the safety of our patients, staff, physicians and visitors as our top priority.  Our visiting guidelines change frequently and we may modify as necessary for individual circumstances.  Please speak with the primary care nurse if you have any questions.

• All visitors are to comply with isolation guidelines at all times
• Visiting guidelines may be reassessed under exceptional circumstances after consultation with Infection Control and the Director of the Inpatient Unit
• Visitors who are not able to comply with these requirements will be asked to leave

If you have a clinical appointment, please ensure your care provider is aware of your new symptoms prior to attending appointment.  If the appointment must be conducted in person, ensure you perform hand hygiene utilizing alcohol based hand rub and wear a well-fitting mask at all times while at the hospital.  Maintain physical distancing. Go to and from your appointment only.

Please do not visit if you are experiencing any of the symptoms above.  Please stay home until you are feeling well.

For more information please visit the Ontario Health page

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Haldimand War Memorial Hospital Visiting Guidelines

HWMH endeavors to keep everyone on our campus safe, through the use of the following guidelines:

All Essential Care Partners and visitors are required to:

• Be healthy. If you are feeling unwell please plan your visit for when you are well
• Please do not use patient’s washrooms. Public washrooms are available for your use

Essential Care Partners/Visitors that cannot follow our guidelines will be asked to leave and will not be permitted to visit.

Emergency Department (ED)

• One visitor per patient is permitted. Exceptions are made in situations where an Essential Care Partner is required to assist with decision making, capacity, language barriers and/or severity of patient’s condition.
• Pediatric patients are permitted two Essential Care Partners in consultation with the clinical team.
• The Essential Care Partner identified by clinical staff as required for the care and wellbeing of the patient will be documented and communicated with the care team. The Essential Care Partner will remain with the patient, unless directed by a member of the care team. Essential Care Partners may be required to wear additional PPE as directed and must be in place at all times.

Outpatient Clinics and Day Surgery

• This includes clinic visits, diagnostic imaging, laboratory etc.
• One visitor per patient is permitted. Exceptions are made in situations where a Care Partner is required to assist with decision making, capacity or language barriers.
• Patients are to provide the name of person who is picking them up. Post procedure or clinic visit, the driver will be notified of where they can come to pick up the patient.

Inpatient Unit

Visiting Hours are between 10am and 8 pm daily.

• Please do not visit if feeling unwell.
• Inpatients are encouraged to stay connected with their families and support networks using alternative forms of visiting including telephone and virtual visits, should an in-person visit not be feasible. Inpatients are encouraged to stay in touch with family using virtual visits on personal devices.
• Patients that are part of our inpatient program will collaborate with the care team, the patient and family to determine the best plan of care for visits outside of the hospital.
• Visiting may be interrupted for the team to provide care if need be.
• Visiting may be restricted to protect the health care needs and privacy rights of other patients or to maintain safety and security.

End of Life

• In partnership with the care team including the patient, the Director of the Program and Essential Care Partners will determine the best plan of care. This may be limited to only immediate family members of the patient being permitted to visit.
• Two family members are permitted at the bedside, at one time.
• Visitors must remain in the patient room at all times unless directed otherwise by a member of the care team.
• 1 Essential Care Partner may be permitted to remain with the patient overnight.
• Visitors may be required to wear additional PPE as directed and must be in place at all times.