Visiting arrangements
Because visiting times can be very tiring for patients the hospital has certain rules which we ask your visitors to follow. You may have two visitors at a time (at the discretion of the Nurse in Charge of the Ward). Children under 10 years old can visit the adult wards with the agreement of the Nurse in Charge.
Visiting times vary according to the ward; most wards are open in the afternoon between 2.30pm and 5.30pm and in the evening between 6.30pm and 8.00pm. However, please see the visiting times page for the times for each individual ward and check with the nurse in charge.
You can have visitors outside the specified times with permission of the Ward Sister. If your visitors wish to bring you gifts of food and drink, please check first that you can have them.
Parent and child accommodation
The hospital does provide facilities for one parent to stay with their child. In special circumstances both parents may stay. Please ask the Ward Sister for more details.
Visiting on the children's ward
Visiting hours are open on the Children's Ward but we prefer only two visitors at a time after 8.00pm. Visiting brothers, sisters and friends must be supervised by an accompanying adult.
Visiting on the special care baby unit
Immediate family and siblings are welcomed to special care. At busy times only two persons per cot at one time may be permitted. Anyone who is unwell with cough, cold or other viral infections are asked not to visit as the infants are very vulnerable.
Letting people know
We realise that your relatives and friends will want to know of your progress. However, it will be helpful if only one person telephones the ward, then passes the news on to others. They should try to avoid ringing between the following times:
 8.00am - 10.30am
12.30pm - 1.30pm
9.00pm - 9.30pm
The hospital's telephone number is Bury St Edmunds (01284) 713000 but many departments and wards now have direct dialling facilities. Please check the telephone number of your ward and ensure that relatives and friends use it. Please also ask them to use the full address when writing to you, as follows, Mr J. Smith, Ward F3, West Suffolk Hospital, Hardwick Lane, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP33 2QZ.
Your letters will be brought to you on the ward each morning. There is a collection point for outgoing mail which is picked up from each ward every day. Please give your outgoing mail to the nursing staff or the Ward Clerk to put in the collection point. Alternatively there is a post box in the main hospital entrance on the ground floor. Don't forget to let neighbours, the milk man, newsagent etc. know that you are going away. You should also notify Social Services of your hospital admission if you receive home care.
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