Current visiting times

We know how important it is for patients and families to be able to see visitors. Please help us keep our patients and staff as safe as possible by checking the guidance below before you visiting. 

Read more on visiting times...


Messages for loved ones and keeping in touch

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 Voluntary Services team can help pass on personal messages from family and friends.

Read more information about messages for loved ones…

Current visiting times

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...


Messages for loved ones and keeping in touch

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.

Read more information about messages for loved ones…

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.

News

Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust asks for the local community to support getting patients home as it returns to critical incident

Date: 29 December 2022

Today (Thursday 29 December) Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust (PHU) have declared a critical incident to protect patient safety as the hospital and emergency department are over full. Demand for emergency and urgent care is far outstripping the capacity available in Portsmouth and South-East Hampshire.

We are calling on the local community to help this situation by taking your relatives or friends home from the hospital as soon as they are declared ready to leave.

Dr John Knighton, Medical Director at PHU said ‘As soon as a person is medically ready to leave hospital, they should be discharged to their place of residence. Every time one patient leaves hospital it helps a further four patients move through the hospital to ensure they get the care they need in a timely way. This means the emergency department is free for those that need lifesaving care, and ambulances are able to quickly return to the community to provide emergency support to people.”

Friends and family play a key role in helping get patients home where there recovery can continue more quickly in their own surroundings. Please speak to the team of healthcare professionals on the wards about how you can help and if you can support discharge a few days earlier. It is best if you can collect your loved ones and not rely on the hospital to organise patient transport, this can reduce delays, and be a better experience for your relative or friend. Every day matters and you will be helping us care for people that still require our care.

Liz Rix, Chief Nurse added “We know that the longer a patient stays in hospital the greater the risk of deconditioning where immobility and inactivity causes muscle weakness, walking difficulty and an increased risk of falls and injury.

At a time when our services are really stretched the extra support patients receive from those closest to them can really help with their recovery and returning to good health and independence. Just making sure your relative or friend is home safe, will not only help them recover but help us to care for another Portsmouth person who needs a hospital bed.”

Further information can be found on our website: https://www.porthosp.nhs.uk/ready-to-go.htm

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Queen Alexandra Hospital,
Cosham,
Portsmouth,
PO6 3LY

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