Visits can help our patients heal and we welcome the support of their families and friends. As the Mater Hospital is a large hospital with many unwell patients, we ask you to follow our guidelines when visiting your friend or relative.


General visiting times

Visitors are welcome daily from 2pm to 4pm and from 6.30pm to 8pm. If you wish to visit outside these hours, you will need permission from the nurse in charge.

Please keep visits short - no more than half an hour and less if appropriate. Please read our visitor guidelines before visiting the hospital.

We will always try to be flexible in difficult or unusual circumstances. Please speak to the nurse in charge if you have questions, requests or issues.

Phone enquiries

It is helpful if one person phones with their enquiry and then passes on the information to other relatives and friends. This is so our nurses don't spend too much time answering calls. We can't give detailed medical information over the phone, but we can say how your friend or relative is progressing in a general way.

Restricted visiting times

Visiting policy is slightly different in the Emergency Department and in the special care, high dependency and intensive care units. 

Emergency department

Visiting in the Emergency Department is restricted. Please ask a staff member for advice by calling (01) 803 2651.

Coronary and special care units

Patients in these units are seriously ill, and rest plays an important part in their recovery. Visiting is restricted to close family members for short periods of time only.  Please ask a staff member for advice by calling (01) 803 4700.

Intensive care and high dependency care units

Due to the intensive nature of the care being delivered to patients in these units, visiting is at the discretion of the nursing staff. Please ask a staff member for advice by calling (01) 803 2762 (intensive care) or (01) 803 2754 (high dependency unit).