We are seeing a significant rise in the number of COVID-19, flu and other respiratory viruses cases. To help us keep our patients, colleagues and visitors safe, we are making a small number of important changes to inpatient visiting.

We understand how important visiting is for our patients and their families, and so our careful and evidence-based approach will allow infection control risks to be managed so that our inpatients can continue to receive visits from their loved ones.

From today, Tuesday 20 December, every adult in-patient should only have one visitor at a time. You do not need to make an appointment for this visit.

We ask that wherever possible, these visits are as short as possible, though visitors who are helping to support the care of their relative or friend are welcome to stay for longer periods of time. We appreciate that there will be some exceptional circumstances, and these will be considered at the discretion of the nurse in charge.

In any area where clinical care is provided, all visitors and patients must:

• Wear a facemask or covering, unless medically exempt
• Clean their hands with alcohol gel when entering a ward area and again when they leave

If attending our emergency departments (ED), you should only be accompanied by one person, and we strongly encourage you to wear a facemask or covering (unless medically exempt) when you are in our ED waiting rooms.

To help stop the spread of illnesses, please do not visit our hospitals if you have any signs of respiratory infections, which may include:

• new cough,
• runny nose,
• sore throat,
• feeling shivery/going hot and cold
• a high temperature,
• aching muscles,
• diarrhoea and/or vomiting.

Please note that there will be no changes to maternity, paediatric or outpatient restrictions at this time.