Visiting restrictions eased further at hospitals in Herefordshire
Wye Valley NHS Trust has eased visiting arrangements further at its hospitals which means that inpatients can now have one daily visit from a family member/friend over the age of 16 years from the first day of their hospital stay, and it can be a different visitor each day and they no longer need to nominate a single visitor.
The Trust has also updated its visiting times to enable social distancing to be maintained and the new arrangements still require each visit to be arranged in advance with the nurse in charge.
This applies to the general wards at Hereford County Hospital and the three community hospitals at Ross-on-Wye, Leominster and Bromyard.
Lucy Flanagan, Director of Nursing at the Trust, said: “We’re very pleased to be able to expand our visiting arrangements to support patients to their loves ones during their hospital stay.
“All we ask is that any visit is booked with the nurse in charge first and visitors will be required to wear a surgical mask and maintain good hand hygiene. Patients will also be required to wear a surgical mask during the visit if clinically appropriate.
“Unfortunately, children under the age of 16 are not allowed to visit, unless they are attending in a caring capacity. However, a parent with babes-in-arms (up to 1 year of age), who is visiting one of the areas below, in line with the visiting restrictions in place, will be supported to do so.
“Importantly, anyone with a COVID positive test or showing symptoms of coronavirus or if they feel unwell with another illness must not visit our hospitals or wards, even if these symptoms are mild or intermittent, due to the risk they pose to others.
“We know how important these visits are to patients and their family and we would like to thank everyone for their understanding while we have these measures in place for the safety of our patients.
The updated visiting arrangements at the Trust’s hospitals are:
| Location | Restrictions |
| Paediatrics – County Hospital | 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 – County Hospital | 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 testingThey should not attend if they have Covid symptomsPartners can visit once per day – either between 9am and 2pm, or between 3pm and 8pm |
| County Hospital: Intensive Care Unit Frome Ward (Covid area) Acute Medical Unit Orthopaedic unit GAU (elective surgery area) | Visiting is not currently permitted in these areas – however special arrangements will be made for patients receiving end of life care. Virtual visiting is available in these areas |
| County Hospital: Monnow Ward Leadon Ward Redbrook Ward Wye Ward Lugg Ward CCU Ward Arrow Ward Teme Ward Frome Ward (Covid-free area) | A daily visit is permitted for patients staying in hospital from the first day of their stay Patients can only have a single visitor at any one time but may have a different visitor on each occasion All visits must be booked by prior appointment with the nurse in charge Visiting hours daily from 3pm – 7pm |
Visiting arrangements at the community hospitals:
| Site | Time | Max no of visitors per slot |
| Leominster | 3pm-4pm6pm-7pm | A daily visit is permitted for patients staying in hospital from the first day of their stayPatients can only have a single visitor at any one time but may have different visitors on each occasionAll visits must be booked by prior appointment with the nurse in charge |
| Ross | 1pm-7pm | |
| Bromyard | 1pm-5pm |
Please note – children under the age of 16 are not allowed to visit, unless they are attending in a caring capacity. However, ‘a parent’, with babes-in-arms (up to 1 year of age), who is visiting one of the areas below, in line with the visiting restrictions in place, will be supported to do so
If have a COVID positive test or are showing symptoms of coronavirus, fell unwell, you must not visit our hospitals or wards.
