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:

  • Visitors must show their vaccination status to our screening team upon entry. If you are not vaccinated, you will be asked to complete a rapid antigen test (RAT) and must receive a negative result to enter.
  • All visitors must wear a mask at all times within the hospital; if you have a mask exemption, you will be asked to complete a RAT
    • Unvaccinated visitors must wear an N95 mask throughout their hospital visit
    • Vaccinated visitors must wear either a surgical mask or an N95 mask during their visit
  • 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 Wards, ICU and Emergency Department):

  • Visiting hours: 12 pm – 6 pm
  • One visitor per patient per day for a maximum of two hours

Northern Hospital Epping – Maternity and Paediatric Units:

  • Visiting hours: 12 pm – 6 pm
  • One parent or carer can remain with child 24 hours/day in paediatric unit
  • One support person in maternity can visit between 8 am – 8 pm
  • Two visitors per patient per day (inclusive of support person)

Northern Hospital Epping – ICU and Emergency Department:

  • 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 Wards: 

  • No visitors allowed in COVID Wards except under compassionate grounds, with prior approval from the Nurse in Charge.
  • A maximum of 10 visitors are permitted on the COVID Ward at any one time.
  • Any visitors to COVID Wards must be vaccinated.

Broadmeadows Hospital and Bundoora Centre:

  • Visiting hours: 12 pm – 6 pm
  • One visitor 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.

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.