Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, access restrictions have been in place to limit the number of visitors and designated family support persons (DFSPs) permitted in healthcare facilities. While these limits have been necessary to reduce the risk of transmission, we understand how challenging they have been for patients, their families and the staff who must enforce them.
On July 13, 2022, we will transition from the COVID-19 access directive and guidance to the AHS Provincial Family Presence Policy Suite, which was implemented at Continuing Care sites in August, 2021. The policy suite will provide ongoing direction for all acute care, ambulatory care, urgent care and emergency care sites.
A comprehensive Staff and Physician FAQ, along with the information below, was created to help answer your questions about this change.
The Policy Suite contains two key documents, which we encourage you to review:
Due to the vulnerable nature of healthcare sites, certain precautions for DFSPs and visitors will remain in place. These include:
While sites will no longer be required to limit the number of DFSPs and visitors per patient, or restrict visitor access, an implementation approach will be determined by site leadership as each service area has its own unique needs.
If the service area can accommodate open access, they should do so. However if limitations are required at your site (for example, due to an outbreak), leaders should consider the following criteria when developing an implementation approach:
Any access limits to family presence and visitation should only be made when absolutely necessary and in accordance with the policy and procedure.
The Managing Limits to Family Presence Procedure provides staff with a consistent approach to managing the implementation of limits to DFSPs or visitors. It includes guidelines on:
Please note that access limits can never exceed those for pandemic response outlined in the COVID-19 Designated Support and Visitor Access Guidance.
Contact ECC@ahs.ca for general questions regarding the transition to the Policy. You can also each out to the provincial Engagement & Patient Experience team at
patient.engagement@ahs.ca for questions on implementation of the Policy.