"If uniform is an issue then staff should be made aware"

My mother in law was admitted to the unit in February for an assessment following deterioration with her terminal illness. She went in on the Thursday and by the Sunday she had deteriorated further and I received a call from my husband while I was at work. I work within a hospital and fully aware of the pandemic we were facing, on this day I was on the clean side of the ward with no contact with any Covid patients.

I arrived at the Alex Unit (in uniform) to meet my husband and children who were obviously distressed. I was greeted by a Staff Nurse who let myself and my daughter in to see my mother in law with no issues. My daughter was distressed seeing her nana so poorly and my mother in law was complaining of being uncomfortable so I helped her.

Within 5 mins of being there the nurse in charge for that day came along and asked for a word. They informed me that while they were happy for me to visit I wasn't to be there in uniform, I either had to come at the start of my shift before 7. 30am or at the end after 8pm. I had explained that I got a distressed call from my husband and explained that my uniform was clean, no one else had mentioned it prior to entering the unit and asked if they wanted me to leave then and they said no it was fine, I could stay for 10-15 mins? My mother in law died later that day.

I just felt the whole scenario was insensitive when we were clearly in a distressed situation, and especially in front of my 12 year old daughter who could hear the conversation. I feel that if uniform is an issue then all staff should be made aware to inform visitors who work within NHS Dumfries & Galloway prior to them visiting, or at least mentioned at the door of the Unit. I have often visited my mother in law in other wards (prior to Covid) while in medical uniform and never had an issue as I am there as a visitor.