Visiting is still limited across our hospitals to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.

However, we understand how important visiting is to our inpatients and so, in light of reducing prevalence of COVID-19, from Friday 20 May 2022, we have changed visiting restrictions for our adult inpatients as follows:

• Adult inpatients may have two named visitors who may visit for one hour between 11am and 7pm each day, for the duration of the inpatient stay. This can be split into two separate visits for one hour each, or the two visitors can come together for a single one-hour visit. Appointments to visit must be booked in advance by contacting the appropriate ward at least one day prior to visiting.

All other visiting restrictions remain unchanged.

We appreciate how hard separation can be for families and patients and we have a number of measures in place to ensure contact is maintained if people can’t visit. This includes video calls, letter printing etc. Please speak to the patient experience team who can assist with this ndht.patientexperience@nhs.net (Northern services) or rde-tr.PALS@nhs.net (Eastern services)

These updated visiting guidelines will be in place from Friday 20 May 2022.

Please remember, you can help us to help you and your loved one by:

• not attending if you are showing any symptoms of COVID-19 or any other infection (such as diarrhoea and vomiting)
• wearing your face mask at all times when inside our buildings (unless you have a medical exemption)
• washing your hands and/or using the hand sanitiser when you arrive and when you leave
• providing updates for your family and friends after your visit

For those who can visit they must follow our visiting guidance available here for NDDH and South Molton and here for our Eastern services (RD&E Wonford, Heavitree and Eastern community sites), which includes following all social distancing, PPE and handwashing rules that are still in place in all healthcare settings.

We will continue to regularly review our visiting arrangements in line with NHS and Government guidance and local public health advice. We are truly grateful for the kindness, patience and understanding you have shown our staff during the past two years while we have had visiting restrictions in place.