This document discusses a hospital's decision to change from restricted visiting hours to open visiting hours. It provides background on why the change was made, including allowing families to feel fully involved in a loved one's care. The hospital engaged staff, patients, and visitors in the process of introducing open visiting. Feedback was overall positive, with the main benefits cited as increased flexibility in visiting hours and more compassionate care through continued family support and involvement. The hospital will continue seeking feedback on the impact of open visiting.

1. Empowering care in partnership
by Brydie Bruce, Communications Manager

2. Why open visiting?
“Families should feel fully part of the care of their loved
ones, to look after patients with frailty and chronic
conditions, the family provide an invaluable component.
“Their views matter and if they feel part of the decision
matter, if that is the patient’s wishes, then they are going to
be much more enthusiastic about the plans and will help to
make them work”
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3. Why did we need to change?
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4. Why did we need to change?
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5. Our target audience
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✓ Staff
✓ Patients
✓ Carers/Visitors
“I believe open visiting will enable us to provide a better service to
patients in several ways. Families can often provide additional
history, especially during post take ward rounds, making an
accurate diagnosis more likely … Families should feel fully part of
the care of their loved ones.”
- Sam Waddy, Consultant, ICU

6. What we did (before)
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✓ Meeting with senior nursing staff
✓ Matrons’ Meeting
✓ Your Voice (open staff forum)
✓ Patient Experience Committee
✓ Ward Sisters’ Meeting

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What we did (before)

8. Our Visitors’ Charter
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9. Introducing #letsbeopen
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“This will make a massive
difference. I know in my many
stays it always seem forever until
my husband can visit ☺ great
news.”
“If everyone is
respectful to each
other it will be great.
Well done NHS.”
“I work as a Health Care
Assistant in Derriford
Hospital and I know the
patients will flourish
having their relatives more
involved with their
relatives. Bring it on…”

10. Going live
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11. Leading with excellence, caring with compassion
Going live

12. Seeking feedback
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13. The response and reactions
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BEFORE
Positive Negative
Other (9)
Empowerment (4)
Communication (3)
Providing help (3)
Visiting times (including flexibility) (2)
Other (3)
Dignity (2)
*Privacy, disruption to ward staff, disruption to
patients, providing help, visiting times
(including flexibility) and empowerment (1)
AFTER
Positive Negative
Visiting times (including flexibility) (20)
Other (13)
Compassion (8)
Communication (5)
Providing help (4)
Disruption to patients (15)
Privacy (10)
Disruption to ward staff (10)
Dignity (6)
Doctors’ / drugs round (6)
The top five themes

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NB: The number 0-24 at the bottom of the chart represent the 24 hours clock.

18. Most importantly…
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#letsbeopen meant we
went from…

19. To…
“My grandad passed away but the change in visiting hours
allowed his grandchildren to spend time over the last week
of his life saying goodbye and giving him comfort.
“Time is the most precious gift you can give anyone.”
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20. Thank you.
Any questions?
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