Visiting Hours

Please note, due to the current COVID-19 Omicron outbreak, temporary changes to visiting restrictions at GV Health have been introduced, effective immediately.

These requirements are in place to provide additional safety measures for patients, clients, residents, consumers and staff in regard to the COVID-19 pandemic.

General Requirements

Visitors to patients, residents, clients and consumers are only able to occur for the reasons specified in the points below and are restricted to one visitor at one time, with no more than one visitor per day:

  • To provide essential care or support for people living with mental health conditions or dementia
  • As the parent, carer or guardian of a person under the age of 18
  • As a nominated person (as defined in the Mental Health Act 2014)
  • As an interpreter or to provide language support under strict circumstances and only where a video call or phone call is not able to be used
  • To learn to support the patient/resident/client’s care upon discharge noting this should be for a maximum of 30 minutes
  • As the partner or support person of a patient in maternity care or pregnancy
  • To accompany a patient in the emergency department

End of Life Visits

Patients/residents are restricted to two visitors at one time for the purpose of end of life visits as
specified in the points below:

  • End of life means where a resident’s death is expected within 28 days or less
  • Visitors do not have to be from the same household
  • There are no time limits and no daily limit on visits
  • No specified purpose is required
  • Immediate family only (including kinshop) of a patient with life-threatening condition, unless a specific exemption is granted
  • A group may exceed the “two visitors at a time” rule if dependents of a visitor (or patient in
    hospital) are in the group and care for the dependents cannot be arranged

Visitors to Aged Care Residents and Care Facilities

  • Up to two two visitors per day are able to visit GV Health’s aged care facilities
  • Visitors must be over 12 years of age
  • Visitors are required to comply with density limits in all GV Health facilities
  • Density limits apply to communal spaces that are accessed by visitors and current density
    quotients limit visitors to one person for every four-square metres
  • There is no daily limit on the number of visits for end of life care visits and people aged under 12
    years are able to attend for end of life visits. End of life means where a resident’s death is
    expected within 28 days or less
  • Where visitors are not fully vaccinated, visits should occur either outdoors or in the resident’s own room(s), they should not occur in common areas

Recommendation for remote / electronic visits

  • Other care and support should be provided remotely if reasonable/appropriate (e.g. phone call
    support for someone with hearing difficulties would not be appropriate)
  • Providing interpreter services or acting as a nominated person should be provided remotely unless it is not practicable to do so

Outings for Aged Care Residents and Care Facilities

  • Residents, clients and consumers can leave their care facilities for outings as long as this meets
    the requirements of the current stay at home orders.
  • Residents are requested to wear face masks on outings.
  • Residents are requested not to leave the care facility unless it is essential.

Aged Care and Care Facility Prospective Residents

A prospective resident can visit an aged care facility with up to two people accompanying the
prospective resident.

Visiting Hours

Visiting hours are 2:00pm – 6:00pm except for the following wards:

  • Child and Adolescent Unit: parents or a designated carer are able to be present 24 hours
  • Maternity Unit: one support person between 9:00am – 11:00am and 2:00 – 6:00pm, rest period
    from 11:00am – 2:00pm
  • Birth Suite: one support person
  • Special Care Nursery: parents only and able to be present 24 hours

Record Keeping

GV Health is required to maintain records of visitors attending all areas across all GV Health sites.
Patients, visitors and staff are required to provide accurate information and all Department Heads are required to ensure record keeping processes in their areas are followed.