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.

Smoke Free

Last updated: 28 October 2019

The Trust operates a smoke-free policy and wishes to advise all visitors that smoking is not permitted anywhere on the hospital grounds. 

As part of our commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of our staff, patients and visitors, QA Hospital is a smoke-free site. Being smoke free not only helps protect people from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke on-site, but also play a significant role in reducing the number of people who smoke by providing support to help them quit.

Why it’s important

Smoking rates have declined in Portsmouth over the last few years but 15.2% of adults living in the city still smoke - above the average for England. Deaths rates due to smoking in Portsmouth are also significantly higher than the national average - approximately 1,000 deaths over a three-year period (from 2014-16). That equates to over 300 deaths a year - almost 1 in 5 of all deaths in Portsmouth.

Smoking costs the NHS an estimated £2billion a year but the cost to society could be as much as £13.8billion each year. It also causes almost 80,000 premature deaths every year, and contributes to 1.7million hospital admissions.

Chief Executive, Mark Cubbon says: “This is our hospital and our community and I would ask everyone to help us in our mission to make QA a smoke-free site. Sadly lung cancer rates at Queen Alexandra Hospital are disproportionately high. As the one of the largest employers in Portsmouth and one of the busiest acute hospitals in the UK, we have responsibility to help reduce smoking and, in turn, the serious illnesses related to it.”

Can I use an e-cigarette?

The Trust has a positive approach to people who use e-cigarettes instead of cigarettes. As a result, vaping or the use of e-cigarettes is allowed in the outdoor spaces of our site. It is not allowed inside any of the buildings. We also ask visitors and patients to be respectful of others and not use e-cigarettes outside our entrances or by windows.

Need help to quit smoking?

All patients coming for appointments or procedures will be asked if they smoke. If you are a smoker then we will provide you with some very brief advice on how to quit. If you're staying with us for longer periods then various Nicotine Replacement Therapies will be offered to you.

There are also many advice and support groups that can help you quit smoking. Listed below are a number of organisations that can help you quit for good:

  • Quit 4 Life - A free NHS service helping people in Hampshire who want to stop smoking.
  • Portsmouth Wellbeing Service - The Wellbeing Service offers free support to help you quit smoking, drink less alcohol, eat well and move more. It's available at venues across Portsmouth.
  • One You - Public Health England’s public-facing guidance on making healthy changes to your live.
  • Action on Smoking and Health - A campaigning public health charity that works to eliminate the harm caused by tobacco.
  • Smoke Free - NHS website that provides information and resources around stopping smoking and second hand smoke.
  • QUIT - UK charity that helps smokers to stop and young people to never start. They provide a diverse range of services including help-lines and community programmes in 8 different languages.
  • Helplines
  • National Help line: 0800 0224332
  • Quitline - 0800 00 22 00
  • Dads Quitline - 0800 00 22 11  
  • Bengali Quitline - 0800 00 22 44   
  • Gujarati Quitline - 0800 00 22 55   
  • Hindi Quitline - 0800 00 22 66
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Queen Alexandra Hospital,
Cosham,
Portsmouth,
PO6 3LY

  • 023 9228 6000

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