Visiting is still limited at NDDH and South Molton to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission and we ask that staff use other methods such as video calls, letter printing etc instead, where possible.

Please speak to the patient experience team who can assist with this. You can contact them on ndht.patientexperience@nhs.net

However we understand how important visiting is to our inpatients and so, in light of reducing prevalence of COVID-19, from midnight Tuesday 26 April 2022, the following visiting restrictions will be in place:

• Adult inpatients may have one named visitor who may visit for one hour between 11am and 7 pm each day, for the duration of the inpatient stay. Appointments to visit must be booked in advance by contacting the appropriate ward at least one day prior to visiting.

• If there are specific reasons of safety – Dementia or learning disability where anxiety would be increased significantly.
• Inpatients under the age of 18 years old – One parent/guardian only (both parents are permitted in the special care baby unit).
• At outpatient and diagnostic appointments where a patient may need emotional support they can be accompanied by one person from the same household or support bubble.
• A patient receiving end-of-life care can receive more than one visitor from the same household or support bubble within a 24 hour period.

Please note that there are no changes to maternity services restrictions. The maternity visiting and appointment restrictions, which have been in place since January 2022, are as follows:

• One partner or designated individual (no children permitted) is able to attend all ultrasound scans and any subsequent appointments with doctor or midwife. They must remain outside the Ladywell Unit until invited in.
• One partner or designated individual (no children permitted) is able to attend all midwife appointments in community settings – community hubs and GP surgeries. They must remain outside until invited in.
• If a woman is being induced, they can have a partner or designated individual attend with them between the hours of 9am and 8pm. Outside of these hours our staff will continue to contact partners and ask them to attend the unit if, due to pain or distress, support is required.
• One partner or designated individual can visit Bassett Ward between the hours of 9am and 8pm.
• If a woman is being cared for in labour ward or in theatre, they can have one birth partner with them. This is usually when they are in labour, having a caesarean or in the immediate postnatal period.

We’d like to reiterate that if a mum-to-be is being induced and is in pain or distress, we will contact their partner and ask them to attend, regardless of what time of day it is.

These updated visiting restrictions will be in place from tomorrow. Even under these circumstances, people should not visit if they are displaying COVID-19 symptoms.

For those who can visit they must follow our visiting guidance which includes lateral flow testing on the day of visiting and following all social distancing, PPE and handwashing rules that are still in place in all healthcare settings.