Health chiefs say hospitals will not allow visitors yet
HEALTH chiefs in West Wales have said hospitals in the region will not open to visitors yet, despite restrictions being eased under new measures announced by the Welsh Government.
Updated guidance, effective from Monday, has been issued to allow health boards and NHS trusts to “strike a balance” between allowing visiting while maintaining strict infection control measures.
However Hywel Dda University Health Board said it is not ready to open its hospital wards to visitors yet.
Mandy Rayani, the board’s director of nursing quality and patient experience said: “The Welsh Government has updated its guidance about hospital visiting across NHS Wales during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, which includes people accompanying patients to appointments such as scans.
“Before we can lift our current visiting restrictions, we must ensure that we can maintain social distancing to keep everyone as safe as possible. We are already working hard to put in place the new arrangements outlined in the guidance appropriately and safely, however, these will not be fully in place (this week) as each department across the health board has to undertake individual risk assessments.
She added: “We wish to reassure people that we are working on this as a matter of urgency and will introduce these changes in a phased way over the coming weeks.
“In the meantime, we are asking women to continue to attend their scheduled appointments alone as unfortunately we cannot yet allow partners or nominated others to attend with them.
“Women with specific needs are advised to contact the antenatal clinic via the hospital switchboard.
“We appreciate that it is a difficult time for everyone and we will continue to support the well-being of our patients/service users and their families and loved ones in the best way we can.
“Thank you for your ongoing patience, understanding and co-operation during this time.”
Once the health board is ready it will follow other parts of Wales where most visiting will have to be approved by the nurse in charge.
Visiting will only be permitted as long as visitors do not have any Covid-19 symptoms or have not been “knowingly exposed” to someone with the virus in the past 14 days.
The latest guidance also acknowledges the innovative ways NHS staff have enabled patients to stay in touch with their families and friends virtually.
But it states that visiting cannot return to “business as usual” as the virus is still spreading in our communities.
“Face-to-face visiting should be with a purpose, not just a social occasion,” the guidance states.
“It is to improve the wellbeing and aid the recovery of a patient or benefit the wellbeing of a visitor for example a visit from a young person who is distressed at not being able to see their parent, guardian or carer.”