Visiting Hours and Information

Updated Visitor Policy at BCHS

Brant Community Healthcare System has put in place a careful and measure approach to reintroduce visitors into our hospital that will keep everyone safe. We want you to be assured that it's safe to be at our hospital sites.

Visiting Guidelines

As BCHS continues to take additional precautions to address the effects of COVID-19 and to keep everyone safe and healthy, we have updated our Visitor Policy as of July 2, 2020. BCHS is committed to providing patient and family-centered care and is making every effort to ensure the needs of patients and families are met while temporary measures are in place.

Guidelines for caregiver visits may change at any time and will be based on COVID-19 frequency within the community or hospital, or infection control measures that increase safety risks. BCHS will allow visitors depending on the local and regional activity of COVID-19 and based on provincial guidelines.

COVID-19 Patients

Due to the extreme high risk to visitors, patients and staff, visiting is prohibited for all COVID-19 patients, including confirmed and suspected cases. Virtual visits will be supported when possible.

Essential Visitors

Essential visitors are identified by patients and must be 18 years or older. They are allowed to visit for compassionate reasons and in exceptional circumstances. Essential visitors include caregivers who meet the following conditions:

People who are visiting or assisting a patient who is at end of life or gravely ill
One parent or guardian of a child or youth who is a patient
Up to two support persons for a woman in labour. Examples of exceptional circumstances requiring two support persons include:
- Surrogacy: support person and intended parent(s)
- Adoption: support person and adoptive parent(s)
- Doula: support person and doula supporting patient
- Indigenous Midwives: support person and person supporting labouring mother
- Brant Midwives: support person and person supporting labouring mother

In circumstances where patients will need to enter the Operating Room, visitors will need to wait in the designated waiting area and will not be permitted to enter the Operating Room.

One caregiver who is supporting a patient following a surgery or procedure. NOTE: A caregiver is allowed only if they are essential to support the patient to the preparation area and then for pick up beyond the hospital entrance.

One caregiver providing essential assistance to a patient who needs cognitive and/or physical support and/or cultural interpretation.

Visitors are not permitted to BCHS if they have:

Have tested positive for COVID-19
Have had close contact with a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19
Have a fever, cough or difficulty breathing
Are feeling unwell with other symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea or a new rash
Have been outside of Canada in the last 14 days
Have had close contact with a person with an acute respiratory illness who has been outside of Canada in the 14 days before symptoms begin to show.

As each situation is different, the unit manager will determine whether a visitor meets the conditions and decide on the length of the visit. Essential visitors must be scheduled in advance through the care team.

General Visiting Guidelines

Scheduling Visits:

Visiting hours are from 12:00 noon to 8:00pm daily at Brantford General Hospital and The Willett.
Visitor appointments will be scheduled 24 hours in advance.
Visitors will be scheduled by the unit clerks on each unit.
Each unit will accommodate a scheduled 1-hour visit for each patient at least once every two days. PLEASE NOTE: At this time, patients with acute respiratory infection precautions will not be permitted to have general visitors.
Each patient can have up to two (2) designated visitors, with only one visitor at a time.
Scheduling visits will be done at the unit level focused on a balance of care delivery requirements and allowing visitor access to help promote positive health outcomes and recovery for our patients. PLEASE NOTE: While updated visiting guidelines are put in place, there may be some time periods when visitors will be restricted on certain hospital units.

Visitors Entering BCHS

Brantford General Hospital

- All visitors must enter the hospital through the D-Wing entrance, be screened at the door and follow all required personal protective equipment precautions. Exceptions include Paediatric and NICU visitors, where visitors will enter through the A-Wing Entrance.

The Willett

All visitors will enter through the Urgent Care Entrance, be screened at the door and follow all required personal protective equipment precautions.

Once the visitor completes screening and is wearing a mask, they will be directed to the Visitor Support Desk. At The Willett, screeners will call the Transitional Unit to confirm visitors entering the building.
The Visitor Support Volunteer will confirm the visitor has a scheduled visit and take the following information:
- Name of visitor
- Name of patient
- Time of visit
- Contact phone number

The Volunteer will provide the Visitor with a Visitor badge, showing the time of visit and then direct the visitor to the unit.

Visiting the Unit

Visitors will be restricted to the patient’s room only.
Visitors must clean their hands when coming into the hospital, and when entering and leaving the patient’s room.

Visitors must put on the appropriate personal protective equipment as shown on the sign posted outside the patient’s room.
Visitors must stay in the patient’s room unless escorted by staff.
Eating/drinking is not permitted within the patient room.
Visitors should not touch anything in the room.
Visitors should use public washrooms and not patient washrooms.
Visitors are should not use washrooms in patient rooms. They should instead utilize washrooms in public areas.
Visitors must not visit common areas located within the unit. Exceptions may be made for utilization of the Indigenous Family Space.

Visitors Exiting BCHS

Visitors will exit through Door 22 located in the D Wing Main floor at the Brantford General Hospital.
Visitors will exit through the Urgent Care entrance at the Willett.

If you have questions about the BCHS Visitor Policy, please contact a member of your loved one’s care team by calling Switchboard at 519-751-5544 extension 0.

Safe-Walk Program

To ensure safe and secure access to BCHS at any time of the day, or night, Security Services offers the Safe-Walk Program. This program is available to all patients, visitors and staff members 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Please call Security Services at 519-732-0581 or Ext. 4949 to use this service. Security Services personnel will meet you at a prearranged location to escort you between the hospital and your vehicle or the bus stops located in the immediate vicinity of the Hospital.