Visiting Darent Valley Hospital

What to expect when you visit DGT

Our top priority is to protect you, our staff and our community. This means that when you visit, there will be some new protection measures in place.

Please watch our video explaining in more detail what you can expect when you visit us.

We ask for your support in keeping everyone safe. We know that not being able to visit your loved ones when they are unwell is difficult and we are doing everything we can to allow as much access as is safe. Please consider alternative ways of staying in contact with your loved ones while they are in hospital.

Please note: anyone showing symptoms of coronavirus should not visit, even if these symptoms are mild or intermittent.

Changes to our visiting policy

We are taking all the necessary steps to protect our patients and staff in preventing the spread of COVID-19. We are maintaining essential visiting to our wards and departments until further notice. Visiting will only be considered in exceptional circumstances where one visitor – an immediate family member or carer will be permitted to visit in the following circumstances:

• For general wards: discretion will be applied on compassionate grounds by the nurse in charge
• One regular carer for a vulnerable patient or a patient with additional needs, such as a patient with dementia
• The paediatric ward will allow one parent/carer to be with the child
• The maternity department will allow one birthing partner to attend
• The neonatal unit will allow parents only to visit

It is essential to minimise the spread of the virus but there will be occasions when the guidance will need to be balanced with our commitment to providing compassionate care. 

We can appreciate this may be frustrating, but we can assure you that it is the safest precaution to take at this time. As per usual practice, the ward staff will alert the named contact if their friend or relative deteriorates or becomes seriously ill.

COVID-19 testing

Tests are still available in your area through the national testing programme and we advise you to access the booking portal to book a test if you have developed symptoms. Slots are released when they are available so please keep trying and remember to only to go testing stations if you have a confirmed appointment. A number of postal testing kits are also available. You can access the national testing portal here.

Please note that the local NHS does not have responsibility for the national Covid-19 testing programme. Local NHS hospitals, GP surgeries and similar healthcare settings are not currently providing appointments for routine Covid-19 testing to the general public.

A small number of appointments are being made available for emergency services personnel and some other key worker households. Booking for these appointments is available through their respective organisations. In all other instances, you will not be able to get a test at hospital unless you are already receiving hospital treatment and it is necessary for your care.

If you have symptoms of Covid-19 but are not able to get a test within five days of your symptoms developing, remember to protect yourself and your loved ones by staying at home and self-isolating for 10 days, in line with current public health advice. For more information, please see www.kent.gov.uk/protectkent

If you would like to make contact with or raise a complaint about the national testing programme, please contact the Department of Health and Social Care enquiries line on 020 7210 4850 or fill in their online form at https://contactus.dhsc.gov.uk/

Patient property drop off

 Relatives/friends are able to drop off essential items for their loved ones who are staying in our hospital, between 9.00am and 4.00pm at Darent Valley Hospital’s main entrance. Our main entrances are manned by security so please inform them you are dropping off patient property as soon as you arrive.

Please clearly label the bag with the patient’s name and the ward they are on. 

You may include some of the following items:

• A change of clothes and underwear
• Reading glasses, dentures and hearing aids  
• Toothbrush, hairbrush and a small number of other bathroom essentials
• A small comforting personal item, eg. a photo, book or magazine. 

Please do not drop off any perishable items or specifically any items of value.

Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust is unable to take any responsibility for belongings dropped off for patients.

Thank you for your support and cooperation. 

Maternity

The Maternity Department has several restrictions in place. Read there HERE.  

Outpatient Appointments

Patients attending for an outpatient appointment will be asked to present their outpatient letter or text reminder on arrival. Only essential relatives or carers will be allowed to attend the appointment with the patient.

Any visitor given a restricted access pass will be asked if they have or develop Covid–19 symptoms, they MUST NOT attend. Alternative arrangements can be made.

Want to speak to your loved one?

Find out more here