Hospitals reimpose strict visitor curbs
FAMILIES are being barred from visiting loved ones at some of the country’s main regional hospitals as coronavirus cases continue to grow, despite hospitalisation of people with the virus falling.
Numerous hospitals have reimposed or retained strict rules preventing routine visits as daily new infection rates continue to remain in the tens of thousands, it has emerged.
Only relatives visiting people undergoing end of life care or suffering from autism or severe mental health issues can be visited, along with partners of women giving birth.
The rules come despite the number of patients being treated in hospital with Covid-19 at a fraction of what they were at the peak of the pandemic. On Wednesday there were 752 new Covid admissions to hospitals in England, compared with 3,812 on Jan 12.
Analysis by The Sunday Telegraph shows that almost a quarter of all NHS trusts in England have banned visitors from their hospitals. A number of exceptions are in place, such as when a patient is receiving end-of-life care or for parents visiting children in hospital.
Among the hospitals where severe restrictions on visiting are in place is the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, run by South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust.
Here, and at other hospitals in the region, visiting is only permitted for patients who are receiving end-of-life care, with one visitor per patient; birthing partners in maternity units; parents or legal guardians in the children’s unit; parents in the neonatal unit; and those supporting someone with dementia, a learning disability or autism, where not being present would cause the patient to be distressed.
Similar rules are in operation at University Hospital Birmingham and Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals, where relatives or friends also have to book a visit ahead and provide evidence of a negative lateral flow within the previous 48 hours.
The NHS in Norfolk and Waveney announced on Nov 18 that visiting on inpatient wards will remain suspended for at least two weeks.
It said in a statement: “It is hoped the measures will reduce the transmission of the virus into local hospitals from visitors and help protect both patients and staff.”
A South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust spokesman said: “Despite the enormous success of the vaccination programme, the essential measures … remain in place to protect those who are immunosuppressed or have not yet been fully jabbed.”
NHS England said it had issued guidance to hospitals but that the implementation of particular protocols is a matter for each individual health trust. “It’s for trusts to determine their own visiting restrictions,” said a spokesman.