# POL-CW-03 — Visitor rules and protective isolation

**Riverside Children's Cancer Centre — Cedar Ward**
**Owner:** Infection Prevention and Control (Ms R. Nasser)
**Version:** 1.8
**Date:** 3 June 2023
**Review due:** 3 June 2025 (review overdue)
**Applies to:** all Cedar Ward inpatients aged 0–18 years and their visitors
**Status:** current — teaching copy, not a real hospital policy

## 1. Purpose

To reduce hospital-acquired infection on a shared paediatric oncology ward.

## 2. Visiting hours

Visiting is 10:00–20:00. Overnight stay is not routine. One parent may stay overnight only with the nurse in charge’s permission, and only in a single room.

## 3. Who may visit a neutropenic child

Children with neutropenia (ANC below 500/µL) may have **well adult visitors**. Visitors under 12 are not allowed.

There is no cap on the number of adult visitors, provided they are well and they gel their hands.

Masks: a surgical mask is required for every visitor to the oncology ward, including well parents. N95 respirators are not required.

## 4. Protective isolation

A child with ANC below 500/µL is placed in **protective isolation**:

- Single room if available; otherwise a curtain and a door card.
- Positive-pressure room is preferred. If none is free, a standard room is acceptable.
- No live plants or flowers in the room.
- The spill kit and isolation gowns live in **dirty utility cupboard B**.

Standard precautions are not enough on their own for prolonged neutropenia.

## 5. Viral illnesses

A visitor with influenza-like illness must stay away until **3 days after the fever starts**, even if they then feel better.

Measles: exclude for 21 days after exposure if not immune.

Varicella: exclude until all lesions are crusted.

## 6. Hand hygiene

Five moments: before touching the child; before a clean or aseptic task; after body-fluid risk; after touching the child; after touching the child’s surroundings. Alcohol gel is preferred. Soap and water if hands are visibly soiled.

Staff must gel on entering and leaving every room. Visitors gel at the door.

## 7. Related documents

- POL-CW-01 Febrile neutropenia
- POL-CW-02 Central venous access devices
- POL-CW-04 Hazardous drugs (no plants in chemo rooms)