No hospital visiting as Covid levels rise
Visiting to hospital units across the region has been put on hold amid efforts to contain Covid-19 cases locally.
The move came into effect on Thursday and applies to all non-essential visits, with exceptions also given for arrangements to support pregnant women and children.
In preparing for the move, ward staff have been contacting relatives and loved ones who had been designated as visitors to advise them of the changes and of the new arrangements being put in place.
It comes in the wake of a warning in the Observer earlier this week from the health board’s medical director, who warned that it was “struggling more with the second wave”, with hospital capacity locally sitting at 90 per cent.
NHS Forth Valley nurse director, Professor Angela Wallace, said: “With rising levels of Covid-19 within our local communities we have made this move to help reduce the risk of transmission within our hospitals, protect patients and staff and manage the increasing pressure on our hospitals which are currently very busy.”
“I understand that not being able to visit a loved one while they are in hospital will be upsetting for many people.
“However, I would like to assure people that this decision has not been taken lightly and we hope local patients and families understand the reasons behind this difficult decision and work with us to support these new arrangements.
“We will also continue to offer virtual visiting for patients using telephones, ipads and laptops to help people keep in touch with their loved ones.”
Under existing Scottish Government guidance, essential visitors who will still be permitted to attend include visitors for patients undergoing end-of-life care; patients with mental health issues; to support a child or baby in hospital; and to accompany pregnant women to scans and antenatal appointments.
An exception also applies for those