(Pet) animals can serve an important social and sometimes therapeutic function. Therefore, patients are given the chance to see their dog or cat during their hospital stay. This can be done in the pet visiting room provided for this purpose.
Who is eligible for a visit?
- Patients staying at the hospital for at least 7 days.
- Dogs and cats with a fully completed pet passport (including all basic vaccinations) that are groomed, housebroken and healthy.
- no open wounds or skin problems
- no diarrhoea or vomiting
- no runny nose
- no inflammation of the eyes or ears
- no excessive scratching, head shaking or chewing
- no hair tangles
- well-groomed nails
How does the visit take place?
The patient is accompanied by a hospital volunteer, and the pet is brought to the hospital accompanied by a close relation (e.g. a family member).
During the visit, both the volunteer and the person accompanying the pet will remain present in the room.
The visit must be planned at least 5 days in advance by a nurse from the ward where the patient is staying. You should therefore always discuss a visit by your pet with your caregivers first.
Practical
Location
The pet visiting room is located near Toegang West. The patient is picked up by a volunteer and escorted to the pet visiting room.
The person accompanying the pet parks in Parking West and from there follows a compulsory walking route to the outside of the pet visiting room. After all, pets are not allowed in the rest of the hospital. See the route at the bottom of this page or in the online info brochure.
The person accompanying the pet will keep the dog on a leash or transport the cat in a cat basket all the way to the pet room.
Opening hours
- Every day from 10:00 to 18:00, except public holidays
- A visit may last a maximum of 1 hour and no more than one visit can take place at a time.
Booking
Discuss your pet's visit with a nurse on your ward. They will then schedule the visit upon agreement with the treating doctor and nurse.
The patient themself will inform a close relative who can come to the hospital with the pet.
Number of visitors
Together with the pet, a maximum of 3 people (including the accompanying person) are allowed to visit.
Important to know
You park in Parking West or walk along the outside to the west side of the hospital. Under no circumstances may you enter the hospital with the pet.
- On leaving Parking West, walk up the stone steps on the left side of the outdoor plaza.
- At the top of the steps, turn right.
- Walk straight ahead along the low wall until you see a narrow metal staircase on the right. Go back down using those stairs.
- In front of you on the left you will see the pet room.
You will also find the route with accompanying photos in the online brochure.
The outdoor area adjacent to the pet visiting room has a fence about 1.5 metres high.
Large dogs and/or dogs that could jump the fence are best kept on a leash.
The fence is also not completely closed, which could allow small dogs and cats to escape. We recommend keeping the pet on a leash or on your lap, or only using the indoor area.
Dogs and cats with a fully completed pet passport (including all basic vaccinations) that are healthy, cared for and housebroken.
Do you have another pet that would be suitable to visit? Discuss this with the nurse on your ward. The latter will refer the question to the hospital hygiene department.
Only dogs and cats with a fully completed pet passport (with all basic vaccinations) can visit.
Before the start of each visit, the animal passport is checked by the volunteer accompanying the patient. This is a prerequisite for the visit to go ahead.
During the visit, certain guidelines apply to ensure hygiene and infection prevention:
- If the pet sits on the patient's lap, a fleeced impermeable cloth must be placed on the patient's lap. Such cloths are provided for you.
- Mandatory disinfection of hands after contact with the pet. Hand alcohol is provided for you.
- As you are accompanying the pet, please leave the pet room (both inside and outside) clean after you leave.
- Provide your own bags to clean up any excrement. A rubbish bin is provided.
- After the visit, disinfect all used surfaces with the disinfecting wipes available.
Indoor area
- Seat, chair and table
- Fresh water
- Fleeced impermeable cloths, gloves, mouth masks, hand alcohol and wet wipes
Outdoor area
- Partly covered
- Bench
- Fence about 1.5 metres high
The person accompanying the pet may bring familiar toys and biscuits or sweets for the pet.
If one patient has several dogs and cats that are used to each other and live together, they can visit at the same time and be present together in the pet room.
Pets from different patients may never visit at the same time.
We aim to keep the room clear for 30 minutes before and after each visit so that different pets do not cross each other either.
The owner of the pet is responsible and liable for the animal. It is therefore important that they, together with the person accompanying the pet, ensure that safety is guaranteed during the visit.
The person accompanying the pet remains present and alert during the visit, anticipating fear, stress or severe reactions from the pet.
The pet room is close to a ward where patients receive therapy. It is therefore preferable to keep the visit quiet.
As much as possible, please prevent the pet from making much noise. If this cannot be controlled, the volunteer will decide to put an end to the visit.