Visiting our hospitals

We have an open visiting hours policy, meaning visitors can stay as long as they wish between 9am and 8pm, seven days a week. 

Two visitors are permitted on the majority of our wards, however due to space restrictions, some wards can only permit one visitor at a time.

If you are planning to visit an inpatient, please refer to the table below. Use this link to access the latest guidance for each ward.

We continue to offer unrestricted visiting for patients who are at end of life, and for patients including those with dementia, learning difficulties or those who need the assistance of a carer.  Please speak to our ward teams for further assistance and information.

Critical care, maternity and children’s areas:

Please use the following links to access the latest information and guidance for visiting these wards:

• Critical care
• Maternity
• Children’s ward (Dolphin Ward)

You must not attend any area of the hospital if you have symptoms of Covid (whether you have tested positive or not) or have been in contact with anyone who has tested Covid positive in the last seven days.

Patients (whether attending as an inpatient or outpatient), visitors and members of the public are not required to wear face masks in the hospital, unless you are visiting a patient with a suspected or confirmed respiratory infection or are visiting a patient on a ward with a COVID-19 outbreak, in which case you will be required to do so. 

Face masks are available at all entrances to the hospital.

Our patients may be accompanied by visitors to support them in outpatient, diagnostic services and emergency department (ED) settings. During very busy times, due to the capacity of the area, you may be asked to wait outside the department until the patient is called for their appointment to enable our seating areas to be prioritised for patients.     

• Personal protective equipment (PPE): In some settings, you may be required to wear PPE. Our teams will guide and support you. Going to the toilet and having had a small drink before putting on PPE can help avoid the need to remove it and put it back on during the visit.

Please remember that the emergency department (ED) is for patients with serious or life-threatening illnesses or injuries. If you do not have serious or life-threatening illnesses or injuries, there are a range of services available for you. This includes NHS 111, Urgent Treatment Centres, your GP or pharmacy. You can access more information here.

Please do not visit our hospitals if you have been unwell with sickness and/or diarrhoea, or you have been in contact with someone with these symptoms, until at least 48 hours after experiencing the last symptom. 

Norovirus can spread very easily from person to person – please protect our patients and people by not visiting our hospitals until you are better.

We recognise, whilst at our hospital, our patients or their families may wish to mark an occasion, such as the birth of a baby, with a photograph or video. While we support this, we have a duty to ensure that the privacy of other individuals within our hospital is respected.

Our patients or their families may take photos of themselves for personal reasons and for their own personal use only. Before any filming or photography is conducted:

• Consent and permission for the images to be taken must be given by the senior nurse or matron on duty 
   
• Consent must also be sought from the patient or individual in the photo or video. Consent can only be obtained if the patient or individual has the capacity to give it. If they do not have the capacity to give consent, then the filming or photography must not be taken
   
• It is not permitted for any patient, carer, or visitor to film or photograph our staff or any part of the premises without written consent
   
• Patients, carers, and visitors found to be breaching this policy could be asked to leave the premises, which may result in police intervention and/or legal proceedings

You can read our full policy, alternatively, please contact our Patient Advice and Liaison Service for more information by calling 01279 827211 or email paht.pals@nhs.net. 

We offer a free NHS Wi-Fi service to all patients, visitors and guests at The Princess Alexandra main site in Harlow.

Please visit the getting here section of our website for the most up to date information on getting here by car, bus or train. 

Map - The Princess Alexandra Hospital

You can also download a copy of the site map here >

Please remember that the emergency department (ED) is for patients with serious or life-threatening illnesses or injuries. If you do not have serious or life-threatening illnesses or injuries, there are a range of services available for you. This includes NHS 111, Urgent Treatment Centres, your GP or pharmacy. You can access more information here.