Visiting a patient at Northern Health

Please note: There may be occasions when regular visiting is restricted in certain wards/units. We recommend contacting the Nurse in Charge through our switchboard on (03) 8405 8000 prior to visiting to confirm the ward/unit is open to visitors. 

Visitors are permitted to Northern Health with some restrictions:

  • All hospital visitors are now required to wear a surgical mask (rather than N95), except for when visiting COVID-19 patients where full PPE, including an N95 mask, is required.
  • All visitors should remain at the patient’s bedside whenever possible and maintain physical distancing in the ward environment. Movement within the hospital should be limited.

 Visitors are not to visit a hospital if they:

  • Are a close contact/household contact of a COVID-19 positive individual within the past seven days
  • Have tested positive to COVID-19 and are yet to be cleared from self-isolation, or
  • Have COVID-19 symptoms (e.g. fever, breathlessness, cough, sore throat, runny nose), or
  • Are waiting for a COVID-19 test result
  • Have returned to Australia from overseas within the last 24 hours and yet to complete a negative rapid antigen test

Northern Hospital Epping (all wards excluding COVID patients/wards, ICU and Emergency Department):

  • Visiting hours: 12 pm – 6 pm
  • Two visitors per patient per day for a maximum of two hours.

Northern Hospital Epping – Emergency Department:

  • One visitor per patient in cubical area.

Northern Hospital Epping – Maternity and Paediatric Units:

  • One parent or carer can remain with child 24 hours/day in Paediatric Unit
  • Up to two people in birth suite
  • One support person in maternity can visit between 8 am – 8 pm, plus one additional person between the hours of 12 pm – 6 pm, maximum two people.

Neonatal Unit:

  • Parents/guardians of babies in the Neonatal Unit and partners on Maternity Wards may visit outside these hours (8 am – 8 pm).
  • Only one parent can remain with neonate overnight by bedside.
  • One designated support person can visit between 8 am – 8 pm if parent or guardian are not available.
  • Maximum two people at a time.

Northern Hospital Epping – ICU:

  • Visiting permitted with prior approval from the Nurse in Charge, who can be contacted through our switchboard on (03) 8405 8000.

Northern Hospital Epping – COVID patients/wards: 

  • Visitors need to wear full PPE and may visit only if approved by the nurse in charge prior. One visitor per day for a maximum of two hours.

Northern Hospital Epping – Chest Pain Evaluation Unit (CPEU):

  • One visitor per day for a maximum of two hours.

All patients known to the Palliative Care Consult Team or in Palliative Care Unit:

  • Total of 10 visitors, two at a time in the room/ward, any time between 12 pm – 8 pm. Nurse in Charge has the discretion to allow extra visitors for the day, and the number of visitors in the ward at a time.

Patients identified as in last stage of life (last hours/days):

  • Total of 10 visitors, four at a time in the room/ward, any time within 24 hours. Nurse In Charge has the discretion to allow extra visitors for the day and the number of visitors in the ward at a time.

Broadmeadows Hospital and Bundoora Centre:

  • Visiting hours: 12 pm – 6 pm
  • Two visitors per patient per day for a maximum of two hours.

Ian Brand Residential Care:

Residents can have five visitors per day as per the current booking system, by contacting the Nurse in Charge on (03) 9495 3194. A maximum of four visitors are allowed at any one time. All adult visitors will need to perform a rapid antigen test (provided on site and undertaken at the main entrance of Bundoora Centre), and receive a negative result before visiting Ian Brand Residential Care.

Merv Irvine and McLellan House Visitors

Residents can have five visitors per day as per the current booking system, by contacting the Nurse in Charge. A maximum of four visitors are allowed at any one time. All adult visitors are requested to provide proof of vaccination and will need to perform a rapid antigen test (provided on site), and receive a negative result before entering.

Contact prior to visiting

Merv Irvine: 0394953240

McLellan House: 0393024002

Outpatient Clinics at Northern Hospital Epping, Broadmeadows Hospital, Bundoora Centre and Craigieburn Centre:

One person is permitted to attend with the patient for appointments relating to:

  • Children’s appointments (two parents maximum)
  • Antenatal appointments (one support person maximum)
  • Cancer-related appointments
  • Patients needing mobility support (wheelchair)
  • Patients with memory/cognitive difficulties
  • Patients with major hearing and vision difficulties

Additional visiting requests require prior approval from the Nurse in Charge, who can be contacted through our switchboard on (03) 8405 8000.