Visiting HHS

As of Wednesday, September 27, masking for patients and visitors is strongly recommended when in the following areas: inpatient units, outpatient clinics, emergency departments, and procedural and diagnostic areas. Masks are available at hospital entrances.

Hamilton Health Sciences recognizes that family and friends play an important role during a patient’s hospital stay and can contribute to a positive patient experience and positive health outcomes.

For the safety and well-being of everyone in the hospital, there are some general guidelines that we ask you to follow:

• Rest and sleep are important for our patients. You may need to shorten visits if the patient is tired and needs rest.
• Please do not visit if you feel unwell or have symptoms such as cough, fever, runny nose, sore throat, diarrhea, vomiting, or a new rash.
• Your visit may be interrupted to provide patient care. We ask that if care is being provided by the care team that you wait until they are finished to visit.
• Patient safety is a top priority for Hamilton Health Sciences. In hospitals, the risk of infection is high and extra care needs to be taken to reduce the spread of germs. Visitors are reminded to regularly wash your hands with soap and warm water, especially after eating, coughing, sneezing and using the washroom.
• Hamilton Health Sciences has provided hand sanitizer for visitor use throughout our hospitals. Please use this often during your visit. Remember to make sure your hands are dry after applying the sanitizer before you touch anything.
• Respecting each other is important when we experience challenges. Being in the hospital can be frustrating and stressful. We would like to hear and discuss any concerns you may have. Together we can find a way to resolve them.

Learn more about patient safety in our hospitals.

Visiting hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

Visitors are reminded to be respectful of the other patients and families in close proximity or who share the same patient room. There may be times when the care team needs to limit the number of visitors.

How to wear a mask
How to handwash
How to handrub
Wearing gloves

• Parents/caregivers/support persons are permitted to eat at the patient’s bedside, except in the NICU where no food or drink is allowed in the patient care areas.
• Patients and caregivers of patients who are in additional precautions are not permitted in the unit kitchens.
• Any leftover food that has been in a patient’s room must be discarded. Leftovers may not be returned to, or kept in, unit refrigerators.
• Please practice good hand hygiene at all times, including when entering and leaving the hospital and before eating food.

For information regarding an in-patient please call Hamilton Health Sciences: 905 521 2100

• Hamilton General Hospital
  ext. 46284
• Juravinski Hospital & Cancer Centre
  ext. 42100
• McMaster University Medical Centre
  ext. 75266
• Regional Rehabilitation Centre
  ext. 40800
• St. Peter’s Hospital
  ext. 12000

Patients appreciate encouraging words and wishes for a speedy recovery.

Send an email message to a Hamilton Health Sciences patient admitted at one of the following sites: Hamilton General Hospital, Juravinski Hospital, McMaster Children’s Hospital/McMaster University Medical Centre, and St.Peter’s Hospital.

Email-a-Patient messages are not deliverable to patients located in the following hospital areas: COVID-19 units, Emergency departments, Intensive Care Units (ICU), units with isolation restrictions, day surgery or ambulatory clinics.

No deliveries of Email-a-Patient messages will be made at hospital sites with active COVID-19 outbreaks.

There is no charge for the Email-a-Patient service. Please note that the Email-a-Patient service is limited to two messages, per sender, per week.

Delivery Schedule

Messages received Monday through Thursday will be delivered on the following day. Messages received Friday through Sunday will be delivered on the Monday. Messages received on an HHS recognized holiday will be delivered the next business day. While we will make every effort to deliver on the above schedule, circumstances beyond our control such as disruptions in email service can delay delivery. In the event that the message is undeliverable, a notification will be sent to the sender’s email address provided in the message.

Confidentiality

Patient confidentiality is a priority and will be respected, however, please ensure that you treat your email as if it were a postcard. Do not include any confidential, medical or private information in your message. All undeliverable emails will be disposed of securely.

The Email-a-Patient program is operated by the Hamilton Health Sciences Volunteer Association (HHSVA).

Read more about the HHSVA.

Giving something beautiful never felt so good!

Visit givingblooms.ca to send flowers to someone in hospital, in Hamilton or the surrounding community. All profits are donated to enhance patient care at Hamilton Health Sciences.

When sending cards or gifts to a patient, please include their room and unit number on the package, along with the hospital mailing address, to ensure delivery.

For family and friends of patients in-hospital requiring accommodation, we have listed several options below for your reference. You may also speak to the social worker on the unit who may be able to provide you with additional resources. Some hotels offer a reduced rate to family members. Ask the hotel reception when calling.

Visitor Accommodations

• Ronald McDonald House
  Ronald McDonald House is a temporary home for parents of children at McMaster Children’s Hospital, located a half-block away. Families pay a $10.00 fee to help offset the operating expenses of the House. Please contact hospital staff for more information or if you want to be referred to the House.
• Mark Preece Family House
  Mark Preece Family House is a low-cost accommodation for families in need. They are located near Hamilton General Hospital but also accommodate patients of Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre and St. Peter’s hospital.

Other Accommodations (not affiliated with HHS)

• Admiral Inn (near McMaster Children’s Hospital)
• Best Western Premier C Hotel by Carmen’s
• Hamilton Plaza (near Hamilton General Hospital and St. Peter’s Hospital)
• Rose Arden Bed & Breakfast (near Juravinski Cancer Centre)
• Sheraton Hamilton Hotel (near Hamilton General Hospital)
• Visitors Inn (West Hamilton, near McMaster Children’s Hospital)

For the health of patients and staff, please do not bring latex balloons or other latex products to the hospital. Latex balloons are prohibited in all HHS facilities as they can cause allergic reactions in some people. Alternatively, MYLAR (shiny foil) balloons may be brought into the hospital.

Please do not bring or wear perfume, cologne, scented soaps, creams or hair spray. Please use deodorants in moderation.

Visitors, patients and staff are not permitted to smoke in any of the hospital’s buildings or anywhere on hospital property, including parking lots, garages and vehicles. Provincial law also prohibits smoking within nine meters (30 feet) of any hospital entrance. Hospital security and municipal by-law officers enforce these restrictions.