Welcoming visitors and support people is a part of the providing safe, high quality, human-centered care across NSW Health.
View the Welcoming Visitors Policy which outlines how NSW Health supports the right of all patients and residents to decide who visits to support, comfort and contribute during their care.
Being connected to the people who matter most is an important part of safe, compassionate and high-quality care. NSW Health welcomes families, visitors and support people and supports services to make visits happen safely and respectfully.
People receiving care have the right to choose who supports them. NSW Health is committed to making visits possible in a consistent, compassionate and culturally safe way.
Visitors and support people play an important role in care. Their presence can provide comfort, reduce anxiety, support recovery, improve communication, and contribute to better experiences and outcomes for patients, families and staff.
A visitor or support person might be a guardian, carer, parent, partner, family member, kin, friend, Elder, spiritual advisor, community leader, or another person important to the patient, resident or client.
Staff should support visits whenever possible and work with patients, residents, carers and visitors to make visits happen safely and respectfully. This includes recognising the important role that family, carers, kin and community can play in recovery, decision-making, reassurance and connection.
Keeping patients, families, carers, visitors and staff safe is important. Sometimes visiting may need to be adjusted because of infection prevention and control, work health and safety, or other risks. When this happens, any adjustments to visits will only be used when necessary and stay in place for the shortest possible time.
Please do not visit if you are unwell with symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose or other cold or flu-like symptoms. You may also be asked to follow local safety measures, such as wearing a mask, cleaning your hands, or limiting movement in some areas. Health services may introduce short-term changes during outbreaks or other safety concerns.
When restrictions are needed, services should continue to work with patients, families and carers to support connection wherever possible, including through compassionate, flexible and culturally safe approaches.
Creating a welcoming environment is everyone’s responsibility. Patients, carers, families, visitors and staff all play a part in making visits safe, respectful and supportive.
NSW Health staff can access a range of resources that provide practical support for welcoming visitors and strengthening connection with patients, families and communities on the NSW Health intranet
