Latest data released by NHS England has indicated that the number of patients with COVID-19 at hospital in Herefordshire (Wye Valley NHS Trust) has fallen, which ties in well with an overall fall in the number of cases of COVID-19 being recorded in the county.
Data shows that on the 9th November, a total of 27 patients had COVID-19 at hospitals in Herefordshire. This is down from 34 patients the previous week (2nd November). It also remains far lower than in January this year when Wye Valley Trust was treating around 120 patients for COVID-19 during the peak of the second wave.
Despite the fall in the number of patients being treated for COVID-19, Wye Valley NHS Trust is remaining cautious and will keep visiting restrictions in place.
Lucy Flanagan, chief nursing officer at Wye Valley NHS Trust said:
“This has been a difficult decision to make as we know the benefits visitors can make to the recovery of our patients, but with the increased spread of the virus in the community and cases on our wards, we’ve decided to temporarily suspend visiting on safety grounds with a few exceptions.”
The exceptions are:
Compassionate grounds
Visitors will be allowed on wards if:
- The patient is receiving end of life care
- The patient is in receipt of bad news
- The patient faces a life-changing illness or injury
- The patient needs specific support and will be benefit from a visitor
Stroke patients
There is a further update to Wye Valley NHS Trust’s visiting restrictions with visiting temporarily suspended to Stroke patients
Out-patient areas
Out-patients can be accompanied if:
- The patient is vulnerable and needs support
- The patient is to receive bad news
There are NO changes to visiting restrictions on the Children’s ward, Special Care Baby Unit and in Maternity. The current restrictions continue to apply in these areas:
| Children’s ward | Parents or carers can be present at all times and coronavirus testing is in place as per local policy. Siblings are not permitted other than in exceptional circumstances |
| Special Care Baby Unit | Parents can be present at all times and coronavirus testing is in place as per local policy. Siblings are not permitted other than in exceptional circumstances |
| Maternity | 1 birth partner can attend delivery suite throughout the stay1 birth partner can attend triage for labour assessment1 birth partner can attend for Induction of labour process between 10am-6pm (if in a side room) On the maternity ward: The nominated support person will need to undergo twice weekly Covid testing They should not attend if they have Covid symptoms Partners can visit once per day – either between 9am and 2pm, or between 3pm and 8pm |
“We want to thank all our patients who have been in hospital in recent months and their families and friends who have supported the visiting restrictions we’ve had in place,” added Lucy.
“We know this hasn’t always been easy but these restrictions have enabled us to ensure patients are being treated in the safest environment possible.
“Covid has not gone away and this tightening of visiting restrictions is an extra step we need to take to help protect patients and staff with the growing number of cases in the community.
“We appreciate the benefits receiving visitors has on our patients and so we have made certain exceptions. The new arrangements will be under constant review and we will reopen and revert back to limited visiting arrangements across our wards as soon as it is safe to do so.”
