Extended visiting hours

We’re making it easier for people to spend time with their loved ones while in hospital by extending visiting times to 8am to 8pm (from 1pm to 8pm) on most adult wards from Thursday 1 May.

This in response to a new national standard for visiting patients in hospital and other care settings. This was informed by learning from the pandemic which showed that restricted visiting was detrimental to patients’ wellbeing and recovery.

A senior nurse stands with a visitor on a ward, smiling over at a patient

Acting on your feedback

Thank you to everyone who shared views about extending visiting hours with us in a recent survey. More than 800 people shared valuable feedback that has helped us consider how best to meet this important national standard.

The survey found that there was a lot of support for extended visiting from members of the public who felt that having loved ones around provided emotional support, helped to motivate people in their recovery, and reduced confusion and distress for people with cognitive impairments.

Having more flexibility to fit around work schedules and long journeys was also favoured, and feedback recognised that extended visiting could help ease overcrowding at peak times – both on wards and in car parks.

Making sure patients still had time to rest and recover, and sufficient privacy during confidential conversations, also featured in the feedback. So too a fear that longer hours could potentially place additional strain on staff.

This valuable feedback is helping us to develop a Visiting Charter which sets out expectations for visitors and staff so that we can best care for our patients.

Localised visiting arrangements will continue in specialist areas, such as maternity, paediatrics, our neonatal and adult intensive care units, and for patients receiving end of life care.

See our visitors section for more information

Read our hospital magazine!

View the latest edition

Front cover of our spring magazine. Title reads 'News at Medway Spring 2025'. Jools Holland stands in front of the Medway clocktower. Headline reads

Join us in making a difference

Get involved