Can you still visit loved ones in hospital? It depends on these things

Visiting procedures at dozens of hospitals across the region have been suspended.

At St James’s and Leeds General Infirmary, which are part of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, all visitors are now banned unless the patient is receiving end-of-life care, the visitor needs to be accompanied or they are a birthing partner accompanying a woman in labour.

Other hospitals, including York, Scarborough, Wharfedale, Hull, Airedale, Bradford and all Sheffield hospitals have a similar policy.

At Huddersfield, visiting is only allowed between 6.30 and 7.30, one visitor per patient and no under 12s.

Professor Chris Morley, chief nurse, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “We know that it’s important for our patients to see family and friends but we all need to play our part in limiting the spread of this virus. We have not taken the decision to stop visiting lightly but the safety of patients, staff and the public has to come first in these unprecedented times. We are making exceptions for patients who are at the end of their life and women in labour who need a birth partner but all other visiting will cease from today unless there are exceptional circumstances. In these exceptional circumstances visitors should discuss this with the nurse in charge of the ward over the phone ahead of the visit.

“We are also asking patients who are attending outpatient appointments to come by themselves unless they need someone with them.”

Heather McNair, chief nurse at York Hospital, said: “Our utmost priority is the safety of everyone in our hospitals at this time, whether it is patients or staff. We are taking this precaution following government advice on social distancing and hope that people will be understanding in this extreme situation.

“As soon as it possible to safely relax the visiting restrictions we will do so. In the meantime the hospital visitors can still keep in touch with loved ones by considering other ways of having contact, such as video and phone calls. Wi-Fi is available for patients in all our bedded areas.”

In Hull, restrictions were also put on the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit which meant only one parent can now visit for the duration of the baby’s stay, unless their child is critically ill.

If two parents are able to visit because their child is critically ill or receiving end-of-life care, just one will be allowed by their baby’s cot at a time.

This was to protect the babies on the ward, the hospital said.

Consultant neonataologist Joanna Preece said: “We know how difficult this will be for families but they would expect us to do everything in our power to protect their babies and to maintain staffing levels to deliver this care.

“Our priority must be the babies in our care and taking these steps will ensure we are doing everything possible to reduce the risk of the virus being spread in the unit.”

NICU Manager Kate Lamming said: “I have written a letter for all parents to explain we have their babies’ best interests at heart. We are taking these steps to protect their babies, the staff who are caring for their babies and the parents themselves.

“We are very grateful for their understanding of the need to take these difficult steps.”