Information for visitors

We understand you may have many questions about your visit to the RHN.


Updated on 30 January 2023

This page has information that is useful for visitors

The RHN is a large hospital offering lots of space, both indoors and outdoors, for visitors and patients. There are clear signs throughout the hospital but if you need directions or other help, please ask any member of staff (they will be wearing a uniform or a yellow ID badge).

Bringing food from home

As much as we appreciate home cooked and shop bought foods, we ask that you only eat food that has been made or bought on the premises. Most patients here have special food requirements because of swallowing difficulties caused by their disability so we ask this for the safety of everyone in our care.

Space for Families/Carers (The View)

The View is a great place for you to meet other families, patients and residents, and to find out what’s going on around the hospital.

On the ground floor in ‘The View’, there is useful information on hand, such as information on the conditions we work with and how we work, details of local support agencies and services and a programme of upcoming RHN events and activities.


Children
Children are always welcome here, and we have a number of games, books and toys in Carers’ Corner for children who visit, but please ensure they are always accompanied by an adult.

Faith and religious services

We have a chaplain who offers pastoral, spiritual and emotional support, whatever your faith or beliefs. The chapel is on the ground floor and open every day as a quiet space for private reflection, meditation and prayer. It is also a place for community services of worship.

Fire safety

In the event of a fire, please stay calm and follow the ward manager’s or staff member’s directions.

Laundry service

We offer an optional free laundry service for all of our patients and residents.
Click here for more details.

Protected Mealtime service

This is a period when routine non-urgent activity on the ward is reduced so that nursing and volunteer staff can serve and supervise meals and give assistance to those patients who need help eating and drinking.

The wards have protected mealtimes during breakfast, lunch and supper, times vary on each ward, a poster displaying these mealtimes can be found upon entry to a ward but please confirm these times with the nursing staff.

If possible, please try to avoid visiting the ward during these times, so that staff can concentrate on assisting patients with their meals.

If you normally visit at mealtimes to help/encourage your relative or friend with their meals, we are happy for you to continue to do this.

If you need any further information concerning Protected Mealtimes, please speak to the Nurse in charge.

Safer Staffing

We proactively plan and review nursing staffing levels on a daily basis, and display information for patients, residents and visitors in all our inpatient areas which show the planned and actual staffing available at the start of every shift. If you have any feedback about staffing levels on your ward, please speak with your Ward Manager or Service Matron.

Signing-in and out

Visitors are able to access the building through the Main Reception and Drapers Wing entrances.

  • All visitors must sign-in and out using the electronic check-in systems.
  • New visitors please check-in at main reception.
  • Please stick on your visitor pass once dispensed from the printer and use a fresh mask provided before going onto a ward.

Smoking

This is a no smoking site.

Overnight and short-term accommodation

To make visiting easier for relatives who live outside of the area, we offer short stay affordable accommodation within our grounds. To arrange this, please ask for a registration form from your ward manager and once completed hand it to the Leisure and Family Services team which is next to Carers’ Corner.

Wifi access

There is free wifi access throughout the hospital. If you’d like to connect a device to the network, you can visit the Capsticks computer room for help, ask a ward manager or staff on reception.