Visiting during Ramadan

Visiting times at the Queen’s Medical Centre and Nottingham City Hospital have been extended during the holy month of Ramadan.

The first day of Ramadan began this week and will end around Tuesday 9 April 2024, followed by the celebration of Eid Al-Fitr.

During this time, people will be able to visit loved ones on hospital wards until 10pm (extended from 8pm) until the end of Ramadan (Wednesday 10 April).

This will allow people enough time to visit following Iftar, the meal eaten by Muslims to break their fast.

Zaynab Asghar from the Nottingham Muslim Women's Network welcomed the move, saying: “We extend warm congratulations to Nottingham University Hospitals for their commendable decision to extend visiting times during the holy month of Ramadan. This thoughtful gesture exemplifies the Trust’s steadfast commitment to cultural inclusivity, ensuring that diverse communities are supported during significant religious observances."

Amnah Shah, Freedom to Speak Up Guardian at NUH and Head of Speaking Up with the National NHS Muslim Network added: “Ramadan is centred around the family and this extended provision is very welcomed. It will enable and support our Muslim communities in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire to observe their religious and spiritual obligations and allow time to visit loved ones after Iftar and before or after evening Taraweeh Prayers at the Mosque.”

The same rules and restrictions will apply to the number of people per bed, and all visitors are asked to be respectful of patients around them, especially later in the evening.

NUH is also asking people to help them protect patients and staff by avoiding coming into hospital if they have any symptoms of illness. This includes any symptoms of COVID-19, flu and colds as well as symptoms of vomiting or diarrhoea.

Michelle Rhodes, Chief Nurse at NUH, said: “We know how important it is for the recovery and wellbeing of our patients to have visitors during their time in hospital. We also know that it can be challenging for those who are fasting to visit loved ones in hospital during our normal visiting hours, so we are pleased to support our communities and patients by extending our visiting hours during Ramadan to 10pm.”