Hospital visiting all hours (please be kind 😂 )

I do agree about too many visitors in hospital. These days people are in hospital for shorter times, so are more ill than in the past.
When I had surgery a few years ago, my two sons visited the day of the surgery but I was too tired to want them there for long. I just wanted to sleep, but there was so much noise with several visitors to each patient until late in the evening.
It's good to have one visitor to help a very ill patient with food and personal care. I did that with my DH and DF but that's not noisy.

not only noisy visitors but nurses talking loudly at night and consultants in heavy shoes clomping down the ward...

When I was in hospital for a week, if it wasn't the horrendous snoring all night long, it was the nurses chatting about their boyfriends and giggling loudly. I came home exhausted.

It must depend on the individual ward, and the way it is managed.

I had a hip replacement in 2022 2 years ago on the NHS in a private hospital. They still had no visitors rule, maybe be still from Covid but it was lovely and quiet ! MyDH was on a general NHS ward very poorly and I stayed with him all day as he needed help and the nurses did nothing for him at all . I changed his wet bed when the IV leaked , washed him and brought in edible food . Not a happy time . The ward was also full of noisy visitors all day, so many round one bed it was rediculous .

I have never wanted visitors other than my husband when I’ve been in hospital.
I was once in hospital at the same time as someone in our village, three of his friends went to visit him only to be told he had been discharged that afternoon, apparently one had suggested they called in to see me as they knew I was in there somewhere, thankfully they didn’t!

I fully agree with you 100%! I was laying in the bed on various hospital stays drugged up, exhausted, desperate for sleep and couldn't because of the horrendous noise, kids using the place as a playground - knocking into staff and patients - and the woman next bed had her tv on LOUD to the point I couldn't hear what the nurse was saying to me.

Hospitals are supposed to be to help ease patient discomfort but over the years it's become a free-for-all.

The few occasions I’ve had to stay in hospital I’ve found night time to be the worst. The staff make an absolute din. I’m sure one night they were having a party with so much loud talking, laughing and shouting.

I have had many admissions to hospital, mostly due to asthma. I tend to say to GP, I would rather stay at home as I cannot stand the noise in hospitals. On occasion they have agreed and I am treated at home. When I have to go in, the noise levels, due to televisions on the ward, send me batty - I don’t watch TV at home, why should I be subjected to it in hospital. I wish that people would use headphones and watch on their own tech rather than on one tv on a ward. Turning now to nursing staff, I qualified as a nurse many years ago and the standards now are appalling. Leaving food on trays for people who cannot//will not eat - not attending to calls for help - the list goes on. As far as visitors it should only be 2 per bed and over a limited period. Hospitals are not restful places and I ask to be discharged asap, as soon as I am off oxygen and nebulisers.

Absolutely!!! You are in hospital - not a sort of public hotel.

When I had my youngest dad 27 yrs ago the dads were allowed in anytime and there was a young girl across from me who’s husband was there from 7 am until midnight, and she had many family members turn up at odd hours and they brought food which stank out the room. There was no privacy for the others mums in the ward. My young children refused to visit because of the smell, I had to beg the doctor to let me go home. Contrast to a stay in October visiting hours strictly adhered to make my recovery so much better

Society is getting more and more sloppy and certainly reflected with these ridiculous all day visiting hours. Patients need to rest, it’s an important part of recovery. It might be difficult for some visitors but I think priority should be given to patients as a matter of course. Typical of institutions today, bending over backwards to please everybody and ending up with poor outcomes for the ones that really matter!

The few times I’ve been in hospital I’ve hated having visitors . You’re not exactly at your best when ill, ard you!?
My last illness ( stroke) ….during the last lockdown period …wasn’t too bad as I couldn’t have visitors….it was actually very peaceful and I got over it quicker than the previous two strokes. I definitely liked lockdown in hospital…..I suspect as did the medico’s as well.🤔

Unfortunately we can't go back to the 50's and 60's when hospitals decided on reasonable visiting hours.
Public opinion decided what was best for patients not nurses and doctors.
I am so sorry you are in the unenviable position to have to deal with noisy thoughtless visitors.

The system was set up to accommodate people and family could visit when they could. I think if there’s children or too many round a bed d something should be said. Years ago I had a hysterectomy and was quite poorly my husband came every day and sat beside me bless him.

Decent earplugs a must! I got into trouble for wearing same as could not be roused when had visitor.

I think I agree with you.

I had surgery for bowel cancer in December 2020, that first covid winter when operations were cancelled, nobody was allowed visitors and everyone, including the hospital staff was terrified.

It was difficult and lonely at times but I read loads, watched box sets on my tablet and had video calls with my nearest and dearest. I also slept well, exercised a little and focused on being well enough to come home.

Anything to excess is too much and it sounds like your hospital stay was a nightmare.

I hope you're recovering well.

Totally agree with you poppyjo
I know I would pull the curtains around my bed, but it sounds awful having non stop people around

I remember being in hospital after having an op and I had a sitting headache and the woman in the next bed was on her mobile constantly and she was very loud. I lost count of the number of times I heard about her procedure - all I wanted to do was sleep

travelsafar

The thought of being on display to all and sundry whilst feeling unwell enough to be in hospital is my idea of hell!!!
Bad enough for family and friends to see you like that, let alone lots of strangers at any time of the day.

Totally agree with you travelsafar, couldn't have said it better!

Poppyjo you are not unreasonable. I was in hospital for a few days several years ago and the noise from visitors all day and even the night staff merrily calling to each other, was unbelievable. Lack of sleep made me discharge myself early.

For some reason, people seem to have got noisier generally and there seems to be a lack of awareness of other people and how they might be feeling.

The last time I was in hospital was just at the end of lockdown. There was great excitement when the visitor ban was lifted and DD was actually able to come and see me and bring me books! While DH was dying in 2019 he was in a private room and I was able to be with him all day if I wanted.

My granddaughter (23) was recently in hospital for two weeks. She needed the ability to visit when ever people could because if she didn't her mental health began to degrade. Not everyone was able to visit every day and some days she had no one. I understand that sick people need to rest but restricted visiting is not the answer. Restricting the number and ages of visitors is the way. If someone has children they want to visit it should only be their own children and if possible visiting in a day room not in the ward with people who need to rest.

You are NOT being unreasonable! Hospitals are for sick and recovering people. There should be stricter visitation guidelines in ALL hospitals.

I’m surprised the facility you were in was very lax on allowing people all day and into late evening hours. That used to be the norm in old days. Did they not learn anything from the Covid years??

It’s about patients recovery and well-being. Plus the medical staff has their work in caring for you. Crowds, noise, kids get in the way.

Make sure, if you have the chance to fill out a patient survey, you let them know your dissatisfaction. Or write them a letter.
Most hospitals want to know how they can improve services.

No hospital wants a negative reputation for something like this.

I think it needs to be kept in mind that people often don't work neat, nine til five hours.

So, quiet visitors, and no more than two at a time (or even one?) could be accommodated, as long as they stick to the rules.

10pm really is very late - and I've never been very keen on other peoples' children!