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 March 2022
The increase in COVID-19 cases has had a severe impact on our services and we have very high levels of staff sickness. Our emergency department (ED) and other services are extremely busy and this means that some of our patients are waiting longer than we would like for treatment.
Our inpatient beds are consistently full and a sharp rise in the number of patients with COVID-19 is adding to existing challenges for our staff and health and social care partners.
Our priority is to provide the safest care possible and we can only do that by ensuring that only the sickest and most urgent cases come to our ED. Only come to hospital if it is an emergency such as serious blood loss, suspected stroke or heart attack, or loss of consciousness.
Patients who do not need to be seen in ED will be redirected to other services. Please contact your GP (including e-consult where appropriate and available) or use your nearest urgent treatment centre. Contact NHS111 if you are unsure where to go and need advice.
Our beds need to be kept for those who need them. If you have a loved one with us as an inpatient and know they are being discharged, please collect them as soon as they are ready, as we have patients waiting for these beds.
You can find out more about the services available to you locally here.
John Knighton, medical director, at the Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust said, "Our services are always busy; however, this is an extremely difficult and challenging period for us. The demand on all our services and the number of staff currently sick, means we are having to make difficult decisions and prioritise patients who are most in need of emergency care and the services only we can provide to them. Keeping our hospital safe is challenging and we would like our community to play their part in helping us to care for the sickest patients. Please only attend the emergency department if it is life threatening and help reduce the risk of spreading this virus to others by following guidance around isolating if you have symptoms of COVID-19."
Dr Elizabeth Fellows, chair of NHS Portsmouth Clinical Commissioning Group, said, "If you're sick or injured and need help, it's really important to seek support when you need it. In a life-threatening situation, you should always call 999 or visit the emergency department, but in other cases you'll often be seen more quickly and more appropriately by visiting an urgent treatment centre, a pharmacist or through your GP practice. If you're not sure where to go, contact NHS 111 where a trained health adviser can direct you to the right place."
