Wye Valley NHS Trust is pleased to be able further ease visiting arrangements at its hospitals, which means that inpatients can now have two daily visits from a family member or friend from the first day of their hospital stay.
The visitor must be aged 16 or over and it can be a different visitor for each of these visits – patients no longer need to nominate a single visitor. All visits must be arranged in advance with the nurse in charge so that social distancing can be maintained.
The new arrangements, which come into place today, Monday, May 23, apply to the general wards at Hereford County Hospital and the three community hospitals at Ross-on-Wye, Leominster and Bromyard.
Lucy Flanagan, Chief Nursing Officer at the Trust, said: “We know how important it is for patients to be able to have visits from loved ones and friends during their hospital stay, and we’re very pleased that patients can now have two daily visits.
“This does need to be booked with the nurse in charge first and visitors need 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 one 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.
“It’s very important that 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”.
The updated visiting arrangements at the Trust’s hospitals are:
| LOCATION | RESTRICTIONS |
| Paediatrics – County Hospital | A parent or carer can be present at all times. Both parents can visit, but not at the same time due to social distancing. Siblings are not permitted other than in exceptional circumstances |
| Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) – County Hospital | Parents can be present at all times. Siblings are not permitted other than in exceptional circumstances |
| Maternity – County Hospital | 2 x support person can attend delivery suite throughout the stay 1 x support person can attend triage for labour assessment 1 x support person can attend for Induction of labour process (although restrictions may exist and booking slots may need to be agreed with midwife in charge) On the maternity ward: They should not attend if they have Covid symptoms. Support person can visit once per day (will be offered a morning or afternoon visit) during the period 9am to 9pm, this must be arranged with the midwife in charge as not all partners can be present at once due to social distancing measures. |
| County Hospital: Acute Medical Unit Arrow Ward Ashgrove CCU Ward Dinmore Ward Garway Ward Gilwern Ward Frome Ward – surgical Lugg Ward Redbrook Ward Orthopaedic unit Teme Ward Women’s Health Ward (located on Frome Ward 1st floor) Wye Ward | Two daily visits are permitted for patients staying in hospital from the first day of their stay. However, patients can only have a single visitor at any one time but this can be a different visitor for the two maximum visits per day. All visits must be booked by prior appointment with the nurse in charge. Visiting hours daily from 2pm-5pm and 7pm-8pm |
| Intensive Care Unit | The nurse in charge of the patient’s care will undertake a risk assessment and make a decision on a case by case basis |
| Emergency Department | There are no specific visiting times – patients in the Emergency Department can be escorted by one relative/carer while they receive treatment in the department |
| Community hospitals | |
| LeominsterBromyardRoss-on-Wye | Two daily visits are permitted for patients staying in hospital from the first day of their stay. However, patients can only have a single visitor at any one time, but this can be a different visitor for the two maximum visits per day. All visits must be booked by prior arrangement with the nurse in charge |
| 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. |
