Hospital visiting restrictions areback

NHS Lanarkshire has announced further visiting restrictions as Covid cases continue to rise.

With the rise in case numbers, and the current challenges for healthcare services, which includes pressure on hospital, primary care and community services across Lanarkshire, the health board have taken the decision to move back to one dedicated visitor per day.

This can change from day to day but must be the same visitor attending the daily 45-minute visiting slots.

This will allow them to manage the environment and maintain physical distancing within multi-occupancy rooms within inpatient areas and also across the communal areas.

Essential visiting has been and will continue to be supported with staff taking a compassionate person centred approach for each individual patient.

Trudi Marshall, nurse director said: “We understand that patients in hospital are having a challenging time and want to have their family and friends around them for support.

“Unfortunately, we have seen a rise in the number of Covid patients in our hospitals, and it is our priority to protect our patients and staff as much as is possible. This is why we have made the difficult decision to have one dedicated visitor each day.

“The named person will be able to have close contact with their loved one, such as holding hands.

“This will provide those patients in hospital with the vital support they need from family, carers or friends.”