Hospital visiting rules relaxed
Hull Royal Infirmary
By Simon Bristow
Patients being cared for in East Yorkshire hospitals can benefit from extended visiting arrangements from today.
The number of visitors a patient can receive and the amount of time they can visit for has been extended across the majority of wards and services at Castle Hill Hospital and Hull Royal Infirmary.
But to balance the benefits of visiting with any potential risks of infection, visitors will still be required to book in advance to enable nursing staff to safely accommodate increased numbers of people on each ward.
Jo Ledger, acting chief nurse for Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said: “We know how difficult it can be for people to have a loved one in hospital and either not be able to see them or to have very limited contact with them.
“Having reviewed our visiting policy in the context of the local Covid-19 situation and updated NHS guidance, we feel we can now cautiously extend hospital visiting to allow patients more time with their loved ones.
“Friends and family can provide a lot of support to patients when they’re ill and serve as a real boost to their wellbeing and recovery overall. While we are still mindful of the need to protect patients, staff, and visitors from the spread of infection, this certainly feels like a step in the right direction.”
Among the changes taking effect today are:
Patients can now receive up to two visitors per day, rather than one
Patients can receive visitors for up to two hours per day, rather than one, and this can be split into multiple visits
Visitors can change daily and do not have to be the same two people for the duration of a patient’s stay (with the exception of transplant patients)
A broader visiting window running from 11am – 7pm is in place on general wards, and from 9am to 9pm on antenatal and postnatal wards
Visitors are welcome to visit during mealtimes to help loved ones with feeding if they wish
Patients attending outpatient clinics may now be accompanied by one other person
Patients attending the emergency department may also be accompanied by one other person
In light of continued high levels of demand on emergency care, the trust has maintained its request for just one parent or guardian to accompany their child in children’s A&E.
Visitors will continue to be required to wear a face covering while inside hospital premises unless clinically exempt, and the requirement for visitors to regularly wash and sanitise their hands during their time in hospital also remains in place.
Full details of the new visiting rules can be found here.