As of October 26, visitors need to show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination status to enter acute care facilities. When you arrive, please have your BC Vaccine Card (or equivalent) and photo ID ready to show the greeter at the entrance.  

This vaccination requirement doesn't apply to:

• Visitors with an approved medical exemption.

• Children under the age of vaccine eligibility (currently ages 12 and above).

• The following care settings:

• Visits to the emergency department and intensive care unit

• Visits for compassionate care including critical illness, palliative care, hospice care, end-of-life and medical assistance in dying

• Visits for pediatric care, labour and delivery (e.g., support persons)

• Visits paramount to the patient's physical and mental well-being

• Visits to support the patient's decision-making
  

Up to two visitors may visit a patient at a time. Patients and visitors are encouraged to work in partnership with care providers to determine how best to coordinate visits (e.g., it may be best to avoid visits during shift change or patient rounds). Our health-care team may restrict visitation in the best interest of the patient/client. This may differ by hospital unit, clinic and/or patient. These precautions are in place in the interests of the safety of our most vulnerable patients and clients. If you have questions about visitation restrictions, please speak to the care providers on your unit/clinic or read the Ministry of Health - Overview of Visitors in Acute Care.

We are committed to limiting the community spread of COVID-19 and keeping clients, families and staff as safe as possible. While we continue to support our clients and families to have visiting and family time, we are modifying visitation and limiting the number of people that can gather together at once in order to achieve the best possible infection control and comply with physical distancing recommendations. Our new hospice visition guidelines support a consistent approach to hospice visitation across VCH and with long-term care settings where appropriate.

Hospice visitation guidelines 

The number of visitors a client may have at one time is only limited by the ability to maintain physical distancing within a client’s room.

• Visitors must remain in client’s room during their visits
  

• There are no limits to the hours of visitation or the length of time visitors may stay, including overnight
  

• Common areas are closed due to surfaces being at high risk for viral spread
  

• No take-out food or beverages will be allowed. Food from home will be allowed. Containers need to be bagged when leaving the facility, taken home and cleaned in a dishwasher
  

• Compassionate exceptions will be discussed on a case by case basis in situations where the client is actively dying, has increased agitation or behavioural concerns, or requires specific assistance from the family
  

Visitor Screening 

All visitors will be greeted and screened at the door and will be required to sanitize their hands upon entering and exiting the building

Resources

• Hospice visitation guidelines

Find current guidelines for essential and social visits on our COVID-19 long-term care and assisted living facilities page.

Vancouver Coastal Health continues to support visitors for essential visits. Essential visits include, but are not limited to:

• Visits for compassionate care, including critical illness, palliative care, hospice care, end of life and medical assistance in dying (MAID)

• Visits paramount to the patient, client or resident's physical care and mental well-being (mental and emotional support). This includes:

• Assistance with feeding, mobility, personal care

• Communication assistance for persons with hearing, visual, speech, cognitive, intellectual or memory impairments

• Assistance by designated representatives for persons with disabilities, including emotional support

• Visits for supported decision-making

• Visits for pediatric care, labour and delivery

• Existing registered volunteers providing the services described above.

• Visits required to move belongings in or out of a patient/client or resident's room.

• Police, correctional officers and peace officers accompanying a patient/client for security reasons.
  

• Spiritual care providers of all denominations are considered part of the care team. The single visitor guideline does not apply to them
  

 Review of decisions about essential visits: Families and visitors can ask for a review of a decision about what is considered an essential visit by contacting the VCH Patient Care Quality Office.

These restrictions are in place to protect the health of our patients, clients, residents, staff and physicians. Thank you for your understanding.

A list of our hospitals can be found at the bottom of our hospital care webpage. Click on the hospital name to open the directory listing which includes the address, map, contact and parking information, if available.

Please check in with the unit before visiting to determine the best time for your visit and what you should do when you arrive.

Visit our Care during COVID-19 page to learn what to expect when visiting our hospitals and outpatient clinics in the time of COVID-19. 

Look up accommodation information on the CIBC Centre for Patients & Families website to find reasonable and discounted rates for people visiting friends or family in our facilities.

Please note: Due to COVID-19, updates on available accommodations are continually changing. Because of this, the CIBC Centre for Patients & Families website is not currently updating accommodation listings at this time. We apologize for the inconvenience and strongly recommend contacting accomodation providers directly for the most up-to-date info.

Well Wishes is a free service that allows you to stay in touch with friends and family staying at Vancouver General Hospital (VGH), UBC Hospital, Lions Gate Hospital, Richmond Hospital and GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre. Visit our send well wishes page to get started.

Gift shops are available at many of our locations for those who would like to support a patient with a gift.

• Lions Gate Hospital gift shop: 604-988-3131 ext. 3733

• Powell River General Hospital gift shop: 604-485-3211 ext. 4347
  

• Sechelt Hospital gift shop: 604-885-2224 ext. 4273

• Squamish General Hospital gift shop: 604-892-5211 ext. 3372

• Vancouver General Hospital gift shop: 604-875-5895
  

Beginning December 1 through March 31 each year, all visitors to this facility must have had a flu shot or wear a mask. Flu shots for visitors are free and can be obtained at your family doctor, VCH flu clinics, walk-in clinics; or pharmacies. People planning to visit loved ones in a health care facility or who will take family members to outpatient appointments are also eligible for a free shot.

Masks are available at nursing stations, outpatient reception desks and/or the main entrances of our facilities.