The Rotunda Hospital Dublin

Visitor Information

Like all hospitals, even before the Covid-19 pandemic, the Rotunda Hospital has visiting policies in place so that we can maintain a safe and secure environment for women, babies, their families and staff by controlling the number of people moving through the hospital at any one time. We will always do our best to bring your partner in as early as possible during inpatient stays and as soon as it is safe to do so.

The Rotunda continues to make every effort to accommodate exceptions to our visiting policy on compassionate grounds when the need arises.

Our COVID-19 helpline is 01 817 2575  and is open on Tuesdays and Fridays from 9.00am to 6.00pm. If you have a positive Antigent/PCR test contact us at helpline@rotunda.ie

Visiting Hours

  • Nominated Visitor 8am – 8pm
  • Siblings of the newborn (Under 18’s) 2pm – 8pm
  • Second Visitors (Grandparents) 4pm – 8pm

COVID-19 Patient and Visitor Information

These safety arrangements are reviewed weekly, last updated on 8th February 2022.

Face masks must be worn correctly when in the Hospital

I am currently pregnant and have tested positive for Covid – 19 what should I do?
  1. Isolate as per public Health advise.
  2. If you are greater than 24 weeks gestation please inform you healthcare provider. At Rotunda via email helpline@rotunda.ie
  3. If you have an appointment in the hospital during your isolation period please do not attend, email us the details and we will reschedule this appointment.
  4. Treat symptoms with paracetamol as per guidelines.
  5. If experiencing severe shortness of breath or chest-pain please contact your local GP or general hospital
  6. If you are concerned about your pregnancy .i.e.
    • Your waters have broken
    • You are experiencing PV bleeding
    • You are concerned about your babies movements
    • Please attend the hospital Emergency & Assessment unit, if possible please ring ahead to enable us to have an isolation room is available on your arrival.
Antenatal Appointments

The general outpatients area of the hospital will therefore only be accessible to partners to accompany pregnant patients for their booking visit, early pregnancy assessment scans, the 20-22 week anomaly scan, and by special arrangement for other special visits in which particularly complex or sensitive information is being shared.

For Patients who are COVID-19 Positive

(including induction and caesarean section)

Labour & Birth

COVID-19 positive patients attending for labour and birth are accommodated on a case-by-case basis in accordance with advice from our Infection Prevention and Control team and according to Public Health advice. 

Routine/Antenatal Appointments

If you have been diagnosed with COVID-19, or you are awaiting a test result, or you have symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness of breath or loss of smell or taste, or if you have been abroad in the last 14 days, or have had contact with a confirmed case – please call our COVID-19 Helpline at 01 817 2575 (Tuesdays and Fridays 9:00am to 6:00pm) and we can arrange an individualized care journey to keep you and everyone else safe.

In line with the latest HSE guidance on access to hospitals, which includes standards for partners (Nominated Support Persons) who may accompany maternity patients, and in response to the recent marked increase in community transmission of Covid-19, the Rotunda is modifying its access arrangements for those attending the hospital, with effect from Monday November 29, 2021.

One named, nominated companion may join for labour & birth, on inpatient wards, booking visit, 20-22 week anomaly scan, early pregnancy assessment scans, and the emergency room.

For other routine Outpatient Appointments, one Nominated Support Person (NSP) may accompany to appointments. We encourage patients not to bring children where possible (but understand that patients may not have an option due to lack of available childcare). For Paediatric Outpatients Appointments, this is now open for both Mum or Dad and support partner / significant other. We would ask that baby /infant siblings do not attend . If your or your baby are unwell or have respiratory symptoms we would advise you to contact the POPD department to discuss with the nurse in charge before you attend.

We continue to strongly recommend that all pregnant patients take a Covid-19 vaccine, as well as a vaccine booster when eligible, and that all partners also take a Covid-19 vaccine.

Inpatient Ward Visiting Hours

 Monday – Sunday

Nominated Support Person from 8am – 8pm. Patients will be issued with a second visitor card which may be used to allow a second visitor (Grandparents) to attend between 4pm – 8pm. Siblings of the newborn may visit between 2pm – 8pm but must be supervised by an adult, other than the mother, at all times. No more than 2 people will be permitted to be at the bedside at the same time. We encourage short visits by siblings where possible.

NICU Visiting Hours

Due to the prevalence of viral respiratory illness in the community (Flu, COVID & RSV), mandatory wearing of surgical face masks is now required by all staff and visitors to our NICU.

Mothers/Primary parent, who are inpatients, may visit at any time. You can discuss this with the nurse looking after your baby as this may need to be tailored to your baby’s individual needs. 

When coming in from home to visit your baby you can visit from 9am – 7.30pm daily, both parents are welcome. Unfortunately, extended family, other children/siblings cannot visit the NICU.

Parents may be asked to leave during ward rounds, nurse’s handover, or if there is an emergency on the NICU. We endeavour to keep these times to a minimum. Parents visiting the NICU will be required to perform hand hygiene as they enter into the unit and often during their visit. You will be advised about this by the NICU staff that are looking after your baby. If you are unwell or have respiratory symptoms we would advise you to contact the NICU to seek advice on visiting your baby.

For Parent Education Classes

In-Person Parent Education Classes, including physiotherapy classes, breastfeeding classes and nutrition in pregnancy classes are deferred until further notice. If you are scheduled for these classes, you will be contacted with links to our bespoke online learning materials and resources.

More Information for Nominated Support Person (NSP)

Emergency Room: NSP may attend for consultation- children not permitted to attend.

Day Assessment Unit: NSP may accompany for consultation. Children (other than newborns) not permitted to accompany.

Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit & Fetal Assessment Unit: NSP may accompany for scan appointments. Children not permitted to attend.

For more COVID-19 information for people attending the Rotunda during the pandemic
Click here for COVID-19 Info
Are you coming in to The Rotunda? Are you or your partner COVID-19 positive, have suspicious COVID-19 symptoms, or have been in contact with a confirmed case?
Call our COVID-19 Helpline (Tuesday & Friday 9.00am – 6.00pm)

Bus

 Train

 Luas

Parking

The Rotunda Hospital is on Parnell Square, just north of O’Connell Street. The main entrance is on Parnell Square West. Visitors can park in the front car park (entrance opposite Conway’s Pub) or in the back car park (entrance on Parnell Square West).

Monday to Friday: 4.30 pm to 11 pm
Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays: 9 am to 11 pm
Fee: €6 per visit (only 50 cent, €1 and €2 coins are accepted) payable at the barrier on leaving

There is disc parking on the streets around Parnell Square. There are multi-storey car parks nearby such as the Ilac Centre, Parnell Street and Marlborough Street car parks.

There are specific disabled parking spaces beside the main hospital entrance.

Parnell Centre

The Rotunda’s patients, visitors and staff can park in the Parnell Centre car park for a maximum cost of €6.50 per day. The car park is a 5 minute walk from the hospital. The car park ticket must be validated by security staff in the hospital and you can pay at the pay stations on levels GA and 1A. The car park is now open 24 hours/day, 7 days/week.

For further information, contact (01) 872 2413 or www.parkrite.ie

Mobile Phone Use

You can use your mobile phone in some areas of the hospital to make calls or send text messages. You may charge your mobile phone at your bedside in the general maternity wards, public and private.

ATM’s & Luggage

There are numerous ATM locations within walking distance of the Rotunda Maternity Hospital.
We also have secure storage areas for luggage.

Safety Arrangements 

From time to time it may be necessary to restrict visiting for example, due to high levels of illness in the community. .

No Smoking

The Rotunda Hospital is a Tobacco Free Campus. Smoking in the grounds of the Hospital, or near the entrances to the Hospital is strictly forbidden.