Greater flexibility on hospital visiting rules

HEALTH boards, NHS trusts and hospices are being given greater flexibility to deviate from national guidance around hospital visits this winter, it has been revealed.

Throughout the pandemic the Welsh Government has set out a list of “good practice principles” which all hospitals across the country are told to follow.

This all-Wales guidance has been revised a number of times in response to changing infection rates and feedback from public health experts, patients and staff.

So while the main messaging will be the same around face coverings, social distance and good hand hygiene, the latest guidance will allow health boards to make a “local determination” on hospital visiting arrangements.

It means health boards would likely restrict visiting in the event of a rise in local Covid-19 transmission or an outbreak on a hospital site, and would relax them when case rates are lower.

However, it was confirmed that there are no plans to allow more hospital visits over the Christmas period, with the guidance remaining static throughout December.

Health minister Vaughan Gething said: “We recognise that the restrictions on visiting has a huge impact on patients, their families and loves ones.

“We have announced further changes to the guidelines today to provide health boards, trusts and hospices with flexibility to depart from the guidelines in response to local levels of Covid-19 transmission.

“It is important to remember that the virus has not gone away and the health, safety and wellbeing of patients, communities and NHS staff remains an absolute priority for both the Welsh Government and health care providers. Tough choices will still need to be made but we hope the revised guidelines will allow more flexibility for health care providers.”

The updated guidance also highlights the important role of the “essential support assistant” who will no longer be classed as a “visitor” as they are helping to provide care to a patient.

A patient can nominate someone in their family to be this essential worker so normal visiting rules do not apply to them.

Meanwhile, in maternity services the updated guidance states that a “risk-based approach” needs to be taken by health boards which could allow new mothers and babies to have an increased amount of visitors should circumstances allow.

Currently only the birthing partner of the woman is allowed into maternity units during active labour, birth and for the period immediately after the birth, except in an extremely limited number of circumstances.

All the new rules have been shared with the Welsh NHS for the past two weeks in preparation for them coming into force today.

The Welsh Government stated: “The new guidelines allow healthcare providers to asses local factors and work with local infection prevention and control teams and Public Health Wales when agreeing visiting arrangements.”

Lateral flow tests for Covid-19, which give results within as little as 20 minutes, are currently being piloted on visitors to a small number of care homes.

If it is successful it could be rolled out Wales-wide.

It is understood there are currently no plans to pilot these lateral flow devices at the front door of Welsh hospitals as it’s a greater logistical challenge than care homes.