Health board changes rules for visiting due to Covid cases rise
A WELSH health board has made the “difficult decision” to restrict visiting at its hospitals.
Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board implemented the new rules as of last Friday.
It is asking members of the community to not visit any of their hospitals, except for the following circumstances:
the patient is receiving end-oflife care – visiting to be agreed with the Specialist Palliative Care In-Patient Services;
one partner or support person accompanying a woman once in established labour, and in the immediate post-natal period prior to either transfer home or to the postnatal area. There will be no visiting to the antenatal or postnatal wards;
one partner attendance at ultrasound scan appointments will be limited to the appointments at 12 weeks (dating scan) and 20 weeks (anomaly scan) and some scans arranged via our Early Pregnancy Service;
paediatrics and neonatal areas (one person only as agreed with the clinical team).
From last Friday, all patients attending outpatient hospitals are expected to do so alone.
Last week, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board also announced the closure of the minor injuries unit in Ysbyty Cwm Cynon due to staff shortages.
A spokesman said: “Due to growing numbers of Covid19-positive patients, both in our hospitals and our communities, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board has taken the difficult decision to further restrict visiting to our hospitals.
“We have free wi-fi across our sites and family and friends of patients are encouraged to keep in contact during this difficult time using online technology.
“We understand how difficult these visiting restrictions will be for families, but please support us to minimise the impact of the virus and keep people safe.
“We will provide regular updates as the situation changes.
“Our priority is always the health and safety of patients, visitors, those who use our services and our staff during this challenging time.”
Greg Dix, director of nursing and midwifery at Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB, said: “We have taken this step to introduce tighter visiting restrictions at our hospitals because of the very real increases we are seeing in Covid19 patients in our hospitals.
“Despite easing of some restrictions in society, we are still very much living in a pandemic, and the numbers of patients ill with Covid and needing hospital care is rising each day.
“Taking this difficult decision to restrict visiting allows us to control the levels of Covid in our hospitals, keeping our patients and staff as safe as possible.
“I take this opportunity to remind everyone of the importance of receiving the Covid-19 vaccination if we are going to succeed in slowing the spread of the virus as we go into the winter months.”