Harrogate hospital announces restricted visiting for some patient groups

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The hospital has today announced that it will be phasing in plans to allow more visitors, with the visiting restrictions easing for some patient groups.

These include patients with learning difficulties, dementia and long-stay patients.

Due to infection control and social distancing measures, visiting for all other inpatients remains suspended until further notice.

In a statement on its website, the hospital said: "Previously visiting was suspended except in exceptional circumstances.

"Now, some groups of patients may now be able to have restricted visiting. Our ward staff will consider each patient on the ward each day and arrange a visiting time where appropriate. To help us with oversight of visitors, a daily log of allocated visiting times is being completed and no more than two visitors are allowed in a bay at one time.

"We have a series of questions to ask the family when arranging visiting times. On occasion it may not be possible for visiting to take place at that current time, e.g. if the family member is unwell."

Patients with learning disabilities will be assessed individually and visiting will be discussed with their immediate family. Visiting times will be allowed on an individual basis depending on the patient’s needs.

Those with dementia will be assessed as to whether or not receiving a visitor would be beneficial to their wellbeing, and long-stay patients - who have been apart from their family for a long time and have had little or no other means of communication - could be allocated visiting times of up to one hour with one visitor.

Patients at the end of life will be allowed open visiting where possible, with up to two visitors at a time.

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For more information, visit www.hdft.nhs.uk/news/hospital-visitor-guidance/