Give patients an hour a day for visits, NHS tells hospitals

HOSPITALS in England must allow patients to have visitors “for at least one hour per day”, the NHS said, insisting that their policies must reflect the Government’s “Living with Covid” plan.

Previous guidance stated “careful visiting policies” were appropriate “while Covid-19 continues to be in general circulation”.

NHS England has issued new guidance that says visitors must be accommodated “for at least one hour per day and ideally for longer”.

“It is important to recognise the contribution that visiting makes to the wellbeing and the person-centred care of patients; lack of access to visitors causes distress to them and their families,” it adds. “Visiting policies need to reflect that we are living with Covid-19 in general circulation.”

It comes after The Daily Telegraph revealed that hospitals in England limited patient visits, despite the announcement of the Government’s plan to live with Covid last month. Policies varied, and around a quarter of hospital trusts banned all routine visits.

In some cases, visitors were allowed to see loved ones for 30 minutes per visit, every other day.

Charities, MPS and relatives’ associations had called for visiting policies to be updated. Welcoming the change, Helen Wildbore, director of the Relatives and Residents Association, said: “It’s a step in the right direction. It’s good to see they are recognising the vital role that family carers play.”

The association will today meet MPS, including Jeremy Hunt, the former Health Secretary, to call for patients to be given the legal right to have in-person support from at least one essential ‘care supporter’.

Ms Wildbore said: “What we need is a change in the law to make sure that families and people who use services aren’t scrambling around in different bits of guidance to work out what rules apply in different settings.

“It should be a legal right that moves with them.”

The new rules also state that A&E and outpatient settings must accommodate visitors “where the patient may wish/ need to be accompanied by somebody important to them”.

“No patient should have to attend on their own unless it is their personal choice,” it says.

Free lateral flow tests will be withdrawn from April 1 and hospital visitors are no longer advised to take a test before visiting hospital patients.

However, visitors must wear face masks when inside healthcare settings unless medically exempt.