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Publication - Advice and guidance

Coronavirus (COVID-19): hospital visiting

Last updated 5 October 2022 - see all updates
Directorate
Healthcare Quality and Improvement Directorate
Part of
Coronavirus in Scotland, Health and social care

Enabling family support for people in hospital in Scotland.

This document is part of a collection

End of life care

People nearing the end of life should be supported to spend meaningful time with their loved ones in the final days, weeks and months of their life. There are no restrictions on time or the number of people who can provide support for loved ones as they start to reach the end of life.

It can often be difficult to identify when someone is nearing the end of life and interpretations of ‘end of life’ may differ across clinical settings. It is not appropriate to define a set time period for ‘end of life’ care in this context. Clinical teams should adopt as compassionate and broad an approach as possible.

“End of life” is not expected to be defined only as the last hours of a person’s life or when someone has become unconscious. Likewise, if someone is identified as at the end of their life but then improves, support from family or carers should not be stopped suddenly. It should be carefully and sensitively transitioned so that support can still continue as described elsewhere in this guidance.

We endorse the principles set out by the Scottish Academy of Medical Royal Colleges. Clinicians may find these helpful when considering how best to support visiting for people nearing the end of life.

 

Contact

If you have feedback on this guidance please email: HQIBMT@gov.scot

First published
19 November 2020
Last updated
5 October 2022 - show all updates

  1. Updated in line with latest guidance.

  2. Edits to Children. Added Maternity and neonatal.

  3. Updated Coronavirus (COVID-19): maternity and neonatal settings visiting guidance PDF.

  4. Maternity and neonatal settings visiting guidance PDF updated.

  5. Maternity and neonatal settings visiting guidance PDF updated.

  6. Spiritual care guidance updated.

  7. Updated to reflect current position.

  8. Added further information on spiritual care.

  9. Updated to reflect current position.

  10. Maternity and neonatal information updated.

  11. HTML version of guidance, checklist and risk assessment added, previous guidance removed to reflect current position.

  12. Updated guidance added - will apply from 26 April 2021.

  13. Published updated visiting guidance.

  14. Published updated maternity and neonatal settings visiting guidance

  15. Published updated maternity and neonatal settings visiting guidance.

  16. Updated to reflect new protection levels

  17. Added specific visiting guidance for maternity and neonatal units.

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