Visiting arrangements - updated - 06/01/2026 Please see below the current visiting arrangements at Wye Valley NHS Trust. Children and young people are welcome, although it is sensible to avoid bringing very young children into hospitals where possible and this needs to be discussed with ward staff in advance. Protected meal times All non-urgent clinical activity stops during mealtimes to allow patients to eat their meals in a calm and relaxing environment without unnecessary interruption. Please avoid visiting at mealtimes, unless you would like to help your relative or friend with their meal.  The updated visiting arrangements at the Trust’s hospitals are as…

We rely on patient and public volunteers to enable research to happen. We would like to say a huge thank you to everybody who has volunteered in a research study and contributed to improving the lives of other people.   Clinical research provides the only reliable evidence for safe, effective healthcare. Without health research there would be no new medicines, tests or treatments for health or disease. There would be no advances to medical knowledge or improvements to care. Because of this, you may be asked about taking part in a study when you visit the hospital or another one…

1 in 13 babies are born prematurely (before 37 weeks) in the UK.  If you start showing signs of labour before 37 weeks you will need to ring our triage department as soon as possible and come in to be assessed.  Early labour signs can include: Your waters breaking Abdominal pain Regular tightenings Vaginal blood loss Our special care baby unit in Hereford can provide care for babies who are 32 weeks and above. Therefore if you were to go into labour before this then a transfer to an appropriate unit would be organised as a matter of urgency. Once…

This statement is made on behalf of the Board of Wye Valley NHS Trust with regards to the Modern Slavery Act 2015 which requires large employers to be transparent about their efforts to eradicate slavery and human trafficking in their supply train. The Modern Slavery Act 2015 is designed to consolidate various offences relating to human trafficking and slavery, which includes servitude, being forced or deceived into work, not being able to leave freely and easily without threat to themselves or their family resulting in undesirable or unsafe conditions.  Under the Act, eligible organisations must publish an annual statement in…

Discharge from hospital, leaving hospital, going home

Birth Story 1 – An emergency caesarean section ‘I had my daughter 7 weeks early on the 7th January 2022 by category 1 caesarean section. I had come in during the middle of the night for monitoring as baby’s movements felt very off. I had felt her move, but my gut instinct was telling me something was wrong. Thought I'd just go in and she would be fine on the monitor, put my mind at rest and I could go home to bed. Turned out baby was in distress and within an hour of being on the monitor, I had…

Sleep is often viewed as one of the top 3 issues for people we see at the pain self-management service, and because sleep is so necessary to our health and general well-being it makes it a high priority in establishing the best quality of sleep possible. Click on the links below for helpful information The 4 basics  How to sleep well with pain Getting a good night's sleep Sleep problems guide The 4 basics Below is a very simple and quick outline on four basic principles that help with sleep. Get a Routine and Relax A ‘winding down’ routine can…

Labour can be categorised into the latent phase of labour and the active/established stage. The pain relief options will be slightly different for each stage. The Latent Phase This is the early phase of labour where your cervix will be softening and getting ready for established labour.  You may experience some period type discomfort and irregular tightening’s, the sensations you feel will most likely be in your lower abdomen and lower back as your cervix softens. For this stage of labour, there are lots of things you can do to help yourself feel more comfortable: Use a hot water bottle…

Gestational diabetes If you have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes, it is because it has been found that you have a higher than normal level of glucose (sugar) in your bloodstream. It is called gestational diabetes because it has been found whilst you are pregnant.  In a small amount of cases, it may be that a woman has undiagnosed diabetes, not caused by pregnancy.  The only way to know this is after your baby is born.  If your blood glucose remains high or uncontrolled postnatally then it is likely you have type 2 diabetes, your GP will check this at…

A comprehensive guide Induction of labour (IOL) is the attempt to bring on labour when a woman is not showing any signs of being in labour, it is now a commonly used intervention, with 1 in 3 women experiencing it.  As with any intervention offered in pregnancy and birth, you, as the mother have the option to accept or decline. In order to make that decision you will need up-to-date, evidence-based information about that topic. We want all women to have the same information and to empower you to make the right decision for you, your baby and your family.…