Visitors and Care Partners at LHSC
LHSC is committed to working with patients and families to provide compassionate, high-quality care. We believe the best care happens when patients, families, and care teams work together. With the patient’s consent, their care partners are encouraged to actively engage in the patient’s hospital experience to support safe, people-centred care.
Understanding what type of visitor you are
- Care partners are people chosen by the patient to support their care. They may be a family member, friend, or another trusted person. Care partners can provide comfort, share important information, and help support the patient during their hospital stay and when they move between care settings.
- General visitors are people who visit the patient but are not part of their ongoing care team. This may include acquaintances, coworkers, or more distant relatives.
- In some situations, a care partner may be named an essential care partner. This may happen when visiting needs to be limited, such as during an outbreak or when the risk of infection is high. Essential care partners may continue to support the patient when it is safe to do so.
- Support persons, as defined under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, may be present beyond regular visiting hours when needed. They may help with communication, mobility, personal care, or medical needs.
What are LHSC’s visiting hours?
- LHSC’s standard visiting hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. across our hospital sites. Exceptions to these hours can be made depending on the department and the patient's condition. View additional information about department-specific guidelines and visiting hours.
- Visiting is based on the condition, care needs, and expressed wishes of each patient. For this reason, visiting times may vary between patients and from one day to the next. Please check with unit staff about optimal visiting times.
- Visiting may be interrupted to provide patient care, to protect the privacy rights of other patients, or to maintain safety.
How many visitors are allowed?
- When there is low risk of infection, inpatients may have up to two people visiting at the same time. Other visitors may wait in patient lounge areas or lobbies. The clinical area leader may allow exceptions based on the patient’s care needs.
- Outpatients may usually have one visitor. The clinical area leader may allow exceptions based on the patient’s care needs and family situation.
What else should I know about visiting patients at LHSC?
- Everyone attending the hospital is required to follow standard Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) measures to prevent or limit the spread of infections. Please do not visit the hospital if you feel sick. To help prevent the spread of infection, clean your hands when you enter and leave the hospital and patient areas.
- Care partners, general visitors, and staff are expected to speak and act respectfully. Aggressive, threatening, abusive, or disrespectful behaviour will not be tolerated.
- General visitors are not allowed during outbreaks or occupancy challenges. During an outbreak, each patient may choose two designated care partners. We will do our best to support these care partners, unless the risk of infection is too high for visiting to be safe. Essential care partners must follow IPAC guidelines.
Weapons Detection System
At London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC), the safety and wellbeing of our patients, visitors, and team members is a priority. To support a secure environment in our Emergency Departments (EDs), LHSC has introduced a weapons detection system designed to identify potential threats while maintaining a respectful and welcoming experience for all. This new system is one more way we are working to protect everyone in our hospitals.
How it works:
All individuals entering LHSC’s EDs are required to pass through the weapons detection system each time they enter. This includes children who will be scanned in the presence of their parent, guardian, or accompanying adult. An LHSC security guard will always be present to support patients and visitors with the process.
The system uses advanced, non-invasive technology that allows patients and visitors to walk through without stopping or removing personal items. If the system finds something that may be a threat, a trained security guard may check the person’s belongings.
Considerations and exceptions
We understand that not everyone can go through the system the same way. To ensure equitable access to care and maintain safety, LHSC has established several accommodations:
- Individuals with medical considerations (e.g., pacemakers or mobility-related needs) may be screened with a handheld metal detector instead of walking through the system.
- Patients arriving via ambulance do not go through the main screening system but may be screened by a handheld metal detector if there is reasonable concern about a weapon or prohibited item.
- Urgent or emergent care needs will always take priority. If immediate treatment is required and screening would delay care, patients may bypass the system with a one-to-one security escort until screening can be completed.
- Sacred, spiritual, ceremonial or religious items (such as head coverings, a kara or kirpan, traditional medicines or sacred items) will be treated with respect. Individuals may request private screening, indicate if an item should not be touched, or request a security screener of a specific gender. These accommodations are made in collaboration with the individual.
- Refusals to walk through the system will be accommodated through handheld screening or other protective measures. Patients who refuse all screening methods may still receive care with continuous security accompaniment.
If you require accommodation, please speak to the LHSC security guard at the entrance to the ED before entering.
Respectful and professional approach: Searches are carried out by trained security staff who are committed to acting with courtesy, professionalism, and respect.
Clear signage and communication: Signage is in place at all Emergency Department entrances to inform the public of the weapons detection system. This signage meets all provincial and federal requirements and helps ensure that everyone entering is aware of the screening process.
Contact:
If you have any questions about the screening process, please contact LHSC’s Security team by calling 519-685-8500 ext. 52281.
Fragrance-free Policy
Please note that London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) is fragrance-free. To prevent allergic reactions and respiratory distress for other patients, visitors and staff, please do not use or bring any scented products to your appointment, and ask your friends or family members to do the same.
Smoke-Free at LHSC
In compliance with the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, LHSC is a completely smoke-free facility. This applies to all buildings, grounds, parking lots, and includes smoking in cars.
For more information about smoking during your stay, visit the Smoke-Free at LHSC web page.
Animal Visitation Policy
Family pet visits are not permitted for the health and safety of other patients, visitors, and staff. This policy does not apply to service animals.
Requests for pet visits may be considered on compassionate grounds. In this instance, a pet may be brought into the hospital with the approval of the manager of the patient care unit. There are a number of steps to approve such a visit, including proof of vaccination and completing a pet waiver and release form.
If you wish to bring the pet of a patient to the hospital for a compassionate visit, please speak with a member of the health-care team to start the conversation.
LHSC recognizes the benefit of therapy dog visits for certain patients and has partnered with St. John’s Ambulance to provide a therapy dog program in several units at the hospital. Speak with a member of the health-care team to see if there is a therapy dog visit coming up.
Flowers
LHSC is unable to accept deliveries of flowers for patients in hospital. Please consider sending an e-card.
Visitors may be able to bring flowers. Please confirm with the patient’s unit before bringing flowers as some inpatient units may not permit flowers due to patient needs.
Please note: Poinsettias are NOT permitted within LHSC as they can harm patients who have a latex allergy. For more information about this policy, please read the Poinsettias are NOT permitted within London Health Sciences Centre PDF.
Latex Balloons
Latex balloons are forbidden due to the increasing number of latex allergies in the hospital.
For more information about visiting LHSC, review the Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting LHSC page.
