After suspending visiting earlier in the year, we are now able to offer limited visiting to some wards at the discretion of the nurse in-charge.”
Read more on visiting times...
We recognise the impact that a long stay in hospital can have on families and the importance of maintaining strong communication. Our ward staff are keeping in touch with patients’ next of kin directly and our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) can help pass on personal messages from family and friends.
After suspending visiting earlier in the year, we are now able to offer limited visiting to some wards at the discretion of the nurse in-charge.”
Read more on visiting times...
We recognise the impact that a long stay in hospital can have on families and the importance of maintaining strong communication. Our ward staff are keeping in touch with patients’ next of kin directly and our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) can help pass on personal messages from family and friends.
The Queen Alexandra Hospital is located just on the hill slopes of Portsdown Hill overlooking Portsmouth. It is conveniently situated for both the M27 and A3M.
Family members and carers play an important role in supporting patients during an episode of ill health. We are committed to the active involvement of family members, friends and carers during a hospital stay. Family members and carers play an important role in supporting patients during an episode of ill health.
More information on visiting hospital for an appointment.
If you've had experience of using our services and would like to make a comment then please contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS). Your views are very important to us and we would like to hear where you think improvements are needed or where things have gone so well that you would like to share your thanks or gratitude with the staff involved. When things have not gone so well then you can be sure that we want to hear from you, so please get in touch with PALS.
During your stay in hospital you will meet a number of different members of staff. All members of staff wear name badges, but if you are not sure who someone is or what they do, please feel free to ask them to introduce themselves and explain what they do.
If you have any questions about your treatment, please ask a doctor or a nurse.
There are lots of opportunities for you to get involved with the Trust, from volunteering to attending our public meetings, our Annual General Meeting or our hospital open day which is held every year.
We welcome and value your feedback and use the views you share with us in a number of ways to learn and make improvements as well as sharing best practice. Feedback can be provided in a number of ways.
Date: 24 December 2021
The year started with us caring for much higher numbers of Covid positive patients than we saw in the first wave in 2020. Throughout this year we have been working hard to provide outpatients appointments, planned care, procedures and operations, some of which were postponed as a result of caring for the large numbers of patients with Covid.
There has been continual high demand on our urgent and emergency care services and we have been working with NHS and social care colleagues from across Portsmouth and south-east Hampshire to provide the right treatment in the right place.
Winter is always a busy time for the NHS and we have all been closely watching the emerging situation with the Omicron variant and how that may impact our services.
Bottom of Form
The NHS has always planned for more patients needing care over the winter and I want to reassure you that we are preparing in the same way. There is no doubt that if numbers do rise in our community, this will inevitably have an impact on our colleagues and their families and we need to be ready for that, and the numbers of additional patients likely to require our care.
We can all play our part in helping to reduce the potential impact of rising cases of Covid.
We are supporting the Covid-19 booster campaign with the reopening of the Vaccination Hub at Queen Alexandra Hospital. Getting your booster is one of the best ways to help reduce the spread and significantly reduce the severity of Covid symptoms. Appointments are available at the QA hub through the National Booking System for everyone eligible, aged 18 and over.
You can also help by wearing a mask where required, maintaining social distancing, washing hands more regularly, reducing unnecessary contact with others and taking a lateral flow test before visiting the Hospital.
We know that spending time with loved ones at this time of year is important and if those loved ones are in hospital over the festive period you will want to see them. Our priority is to keep our patients, colleagues and visitors safe and our updated visiting guidance is in place to support that. We are encouraging virtual visiting to reduce the number of people on the hospital site and will of course be helping people to visit in person if we can.
Our teams work hard to show respect, kindness and compassion to you and your loved ones. Coming to hospital can be stressful, and it continues to be a difficult time, but please remember we are all doing our best for you and your families and to show that same kindness and respect to our colleagues.
I am proud of what we have achieved over the last year at PHU and I am sure you will join me in thanking the many teams and volunteers who keep us all going.
And thank you to all of you who live in our community for your continued support. It means so much to us.
I wish you all a Happy Christmas and New Year.
Penny Emerit
Chief executive
Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust
