Ballarat Base Hosptial has vastly eased visitor restrictions, now allowing for two visitors at a time for patients.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
With COVID-19 community transmission now easing again in Victoria, Ballarat Health Services has made a number of changes to the restrictions.
There has been no community transmission in the state for 16 days.
Now, people at the base hospital, as well as the Queen Elizabeth Centre can have two visitors at once, as long as the visits meet all requirements.
At Ballarat Aged Care facilities however, only one visitor is allowed each day.
The new restrictions, effective as of today, are as follows:
Ballarat Base Hospital
General wards
- A maximum of 2 visitors are permitted at any one time
- Visits must occur during the ward's visiting hours
- Visitors must be over 18 years of age, unless accompanied by an adult (eg 1 x adult, 1 x child)
- Patients, their families and loved ones should coordinate their visits to ensure that no more than two people are on-site at any one time
Maternity, Antenatal and Postnatal patients are permitted:
- 1 support person who is also their labour support person
- 1 additional person per day can visit during the maternity visiting hours
Patients on the labour ward are permitted 1 support person, and there is no time limit on the length of the labour support person's visit.
Special Care Nursery and Cotton On Children's Ward
- Visitors can be the 2 (two) parents OR 1 (one) parent and 1 (one) support person. The same nominated people are the only visitors permitted for the duration of the baby's admission. The support person must be over the age of 18 years.
We know these restrictions can be challenging and we understand each family's situation is different. As such, approval on compassionate grounds may be possible the purpose of:
- caring for children
- caring for those with a disability
- support during labour
- in specific emergency situations
- visiting those in palliative care
PATIENTS
We will need to closely monitor any patients attending or admitted to Ballarat Health Services, who have visited a known COVID-19 exposure site
ACCESS
In order to keep our patients and others safe during this time of increased concern, we are asking members of our community to think carefully about your need to visit BHS sites. If you do need to attend please note that:
- Entry is only through the Gardiner Pittard foyer entrance via either Drummond Street or the hospital car park.
- The Sturt Street entrance is only for BRICC oncology patients.
- The Emergency Department entrance is only for Emergency Department patients.
Please continue to follow signs and directions regarding access as these continue to change.
Queen Elizabeth Centre
- A maximum of 2 visitors are permitted at any one time
- Visits must occur during the ward's visiting hours
- Visitors must be over 18 years of age, unless accompanied by an adult (eg 1 x adult, 1 x child)
- Patients, their families and loved ones should coordinate their visits to ensure that no more than two people are on-site at any one time
We know these restrictions can be challenging and we understand each family's situation is different.
PATIENTS
We will need to closely monitor any patients attending or admitted to Ballarat Health Services, who have been living in Mentone, Mitcham or Hallam OR if they have visited a known COVID-19 exposure site
ACCESS
In order to keep our patients and others safe during this time of increased concern, we are asking members of our community to think carefully about your need to visit BHS sites. If you do need to attend please note that:
- For Inpatient Rehabilitation go through the entrance on Eyre Street
- For Gandarra and GEM please enter through their respective front entrances on Ascot Street
- All other services are accessed via the Ascot Street main entrance.
Please continue to follow signs and directions regarding access as these continue to change.
Ballarat Aged Care
Visiting is currently restricted to the following:
- Visits will be limited to between 11am and 6pm, 7 days a week
- All visits must be scheduled with the facility
- A resident is permitted 1 visitor for 1 x visiting session per day
- The visit is for a maximum of 60 minutes
- The visitors must wear facility-supplied personal protective equipment, and practice hand hygiene upon entry
- The visit is to occur in the resident's room, or a nominated area within and outside the facility
- The visitors must remain at a safe 1.5metre physical distance from the person they are visiting, staff and any other residents within the facility
- The visitors can bring food in the facility that is in a container that can be wiped clean and meets current BHS policies regarding food from outside facilities
- Written evidence of flu vaccination will be required
- Visitors will be asked to sign a written declaration agreeing to comply with the entry requirements
Please contact the facility to make a time to visit.
When a resident returns from leave, or is admitted to the facility having lived in or visited Mentone, Mitcham or Hallam OR is found to have visited a known COVID-19 exposure site, they must be tested and remain in their room until results are known and until they return a negative test result.
We know these restrictions can be challenging and we understand each person's situation is different. If you wish to discuss your individual circumstances further, please contact the facility Manager.
Please continue to follow signs and directions regarding access as these continue to change.
If you have any specific concerns regarding our response or any other issue, please email: residential@bhs.org.au or call 5320 3620.
Our facilities include:
- Talbot Place
- Eureka Village Hostel
- Geoffrey Cutter Centre
- Hailey House
- Jack Lonsdale Lodge
- James Thomas Court
- B. Messer Hostel
- S. Hobson Nursing Home
- Bill Crawford Lodge
- Steele Haughton
- Transition Care Program (TCP)
