Drop in Covid cases means some hospital visitors will be allowed
FOR most of the past 12 months, stringent restrictions on hospital visiting have been in place to stop coronavirus spreading on wards.
It led to many people being unable to see their unwell loved ones in person unless they were dying or there were exceptional circumstances.
But thanks to a significant drop in infection rates across Wales, which has seen Covid cases in hospitals also reduce, these rules are being relaxed in some parts of Wales. All health boards have different guidance on hospital visiting which, in some cases, will allow more to take place.
Here’s a look at the most recent regulations in your region. In all cases, check with the hospital before visiting.
SWANSEA BAY UHB
Swansea Bay UHB said it has begun a review of visiting restrictions and will issue an update as soon as it is ready.
In Swansea Bay UHB, visits are limited to:
Patients receiving endof-life care.
Patients who have mental health issues such as dementia, or a learning disability or a condition like autism where not having a visitor would cause the patient to be distressed.
One parent or carer to accompany a child in hospital.
When it comes to maternity arrangements:
Women can be accompanied by their partners for the early pregnancy scan (around 12 weeks) and the foetal anomaly scan (around 20 weeks).
Women who are attending foetal medicine clinics (when an issue has been found with the developing baby) can be accompanied by a partner.
All partners who attend the appointments must be from the same household.
All other hospital antenatal out-patient contacts will be unaccompanied.
Women can be accompanied by one birthing partner from the commencement of active labour and stay in the hospital until after the baby’s birth.
At this time there is no visiting on the antenatal or postnatal ward.
A spokeswoman said: “We are supporting virtual visiting wherever possible.
“Anyone with Covid symptoms must not visit any of our sites. Stay home and arrange a test.”
HYWEL DDA UHB
Despite Hywel Dda UHB recording among the lowest infection rates in Wales, strict visiting restrictions remain in place. The only exceptions to this arrangement are:
One parent/guardian at a time to visit their child.
For birthing mothers – only one birthing partner.
Patients considered to be at the end of life or receiving palliative care.
A spokesperson said: “Visits must be preplanned and agreed with the sister/charge nurse.”
CWM TAF MORGANNWG UHB
THE health board is downgrading its visiting restrictions from “red” to “amber”.
While the health board supports and promotes virtual visiting, in-person visiting will be permitted in the following circumstances:
When it comes to general ward visiting, people can pre-book visits – via the ward manager – to see loved ones providing they are from the same household. This is restricted to one adult visitor per patient, however a child can also come if they are accompanied by an adult. Two visitors are allowed if the patient is “in last days of life”.
In maternity, a partner can attend 12 and 20-week ultrasound scans. Partners are also invited to a labour assessment if facility allows for infection prevent measures. There will also be increased face-toface appointments in the antenatal and postnatal period. Birthing partners can visit mothers and babies on the postnatal wards for one hour each day on an appointment basis. People attending outpatient appointments or the emergency department must attend alone unless support assistant agreed.
Some patients require essential support assistants for specific additional support, such as a support worker or interpreter. Essential support assistants will not be classed as visitors. On Covid wards, visitors must be aware of the risks of transmission and advised of infection control measures in place including the use of any PPE required during their visit.
CARDIFF AND VALE UHB
As per Welsh Government guidelines, Cardiff and Vale UHB stressed that visiting should be with “a clear purpose” and be based on the “best interests of the patient”.
End of life: in these cases ward staff will contact the visitor directly.
Carer: you are the carer or the nominated representative.
Learning disabilities (LD): a patient with learning disabilities may need their carer/next of kin to share information about their individual needs and virtual visiting may not be appropriate.
Other: for example where it is felt a visit from you may help the patient with rehabilitation, understanding of care/condition, help with dietary concerns etc. One visitor is allowed for the duration of the planned visit. For maternity services: Visiting is only permitted for the nominated birth partner.
Visitors must maintain the recommended social distancing requirements.
Visitors to the ward will be asked to declare any Covid-19 related symptoms. They will be asked to confirm that they are not currently self-isolating and that they have not been in contact with someone who is suspected of having or is confirmed as having Covid19.
Visitors are to wear a face mask at all times during the visiting period.
Visitors are to remain with the patient during the visiting period.
If the visitor leaves during the visiting period reentry will not be permitted.
Visitors must use toilet facilities that are provided for members of the public only.
Visitors are to refrain from sitting on the beds and must not visit other patients.
Visitors are to adhere to hand hygiene recommendations and sanitise their hands on entering and exiting the ward.
Visitors should be encouraged to sanitise their hands on exit from the clinical area and dispose of their face mask at the main doors.
Visitors must not bring in flowers, helium balloons or similar items.
The information for visiting form will need to be signed and contact details provided to assist Public Health as part of the “test and trace or test and protect” strategy, should there be a necessity following their visit.
BETSI CADWALADR UHB
Visiting to hospitals in Betsi Cadwaladr UHB
As a health board we need to carefully balance the risk and spread of infection against the emotional challenge of visiting restrictions. However, we fully recognise that for patients who are end of life, contact with a loved one is vitally important - Spokesperson
remains restricted to protect the health and safety of staff, patients and service users.
Within non-covid-19 areas and services: ■ One parent, guardian, or carer at the bedside at a time for paediatric inpatients and neonates. ■ Patients who are critical/in the last days of their life – this can be up to two visitors at a time, for a specified amount of time, from the same household or part of an extended household. If not from the same household or not part of an extended household they should visit the bedside separately and maintain distance outside of the clinical area. ■ An essential support assistant and one birthing partner for women in active labour, preferably from the same household or part of an extended household. ■ In general, one visitor at a time for a patient with mental health needs, dementia, learning disability or cognitive impairment, where lack of visiting would cause distress or it is required as a reasonable adjustment to support access to health assessment or intervention ■ Children and young people may visit a parent, guardian, carer or sibling in a healthcare setting and should be accompanied by one appropriate adult. ■ People with long-term conditions which necessitate increased length of stay in a healthcare setting or people with specific care and well-being needs that the visitor/carer actively contributes to, for example, feeding, supporting communication needs and supporting rehabilitation. The health and well-being of these patients may benefit from seeing appropriate visitors, as their length of stay is over many weeks.
On Covid wards infectious areas: ■ End of life Covid-19 patients may receive visitors during their last days of life, if permission is sought in advance from the ward sister/charge nurse/nurse in charge. This may be up to two visitors, one at the bedside at a time, for a specified amount of time, preferably from the same household or part of an extended household. ■ People who were formerly shielding or who are otherwise at increased risk from the virus (please see WG for criteria), should avoid hospital visits wherever possible. Where a hospital visit is deemed essential, for example to visit a loved one in the last days of life, hospitals should provide medical masks.
Visitor access for partners or and visitors of pregnant women in Welsh maternity services and neonatal services: ■ One birthing partner/ nominated other to provide support to women who are attending early pregnancy assessment and fetal medicine ultrasound scans. ■ One birthing partner for women in active labour, preferably from the same household or part of an extended household. ■ One birthing partner/ nominated other to provide support to women who are attending for an early pregnancy-dating scan (11 weeks + 2 days – 14 weeks +1 day gestation). ■ One birthing partner/ nominated other to provide support to women who are attending a fetal anomaly scan (18-20 weeks gestation). ■ Visitor access for neonatal services: ■ Both parents can be partners in their baby’s care. ■ No other visitors are permitted in the neonatal units, including siblings. ■ Parents are asked to attend the unit one at a time to assist with social distancing. ■ Any parents who have Covid symptoms or have tested positive for Covid cannot visit and are required to follow the quarantine guidelines.
In cases of bereavement/ discontinuing intensive care, safe practices are put in place to allow the family to be together.
POWYS TEACHING HEALTH BOARD
A spokesman said: “The rural nature of Powys means that our service delivery is very different from neighbouring health boards in Wales. We provide a network of community hospitals across the county, and we aim to offer a personalised visiting experience based on best interests of the patient/service user and the well-being of the visitor.”
ANEURIN BEVAN UHB When it comes to noncovid wards and areas visiting will be permitted for: ■ Women in active labour and birth (a birthing partner). Where there is a dating, anomaly scan in pregnancy or fetal medicine appointment – the partner may attend for that scan. ■ A nominated parent or guardian for a child in hospital and for neonates. ■ Instances where a patient may have special needs, dementia or substantial cognitive impairment, have an extended length of hospital stay (e.g. rehabilitation) or where the benefits of a visit are likely to outweigh the potential harm. This will be at the discretion of the ward manager and may be in liaison with a specialist service. Visiting options will be agreed in advance and documented in the patient’s care plan. ■ Patients who are deemed to be in the end phase of life. Permission to visit will be secured in advance, this will be one visitor for a specified amount of time and frequency as agreed by the ward manager.
On Covid wards visiting will be permitted for: ■ Patients who are deemed to be in the end phase of life. Permission to visit will be secured in advance, this will be one visitor for a specified amount of time and frequency as agreed by the ward manager. ■ A spokesperson added: “As a health board we need to carefully balance the risk and spread of infection against the emotional challenge of visiting restrictions. However, we fully recognise that for patients who are end of life, contact with a loved one is vitally important.
“A discussion with the ward manager will be held to agree a time and duration for a visit. The named visitor will be provided with personal protective equipment. The planning for every visit will include Covid-19 screening questions.”