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.