Visiting stopped at Harrogate hospital sites to protect staff and patients

The trust which runs the hospital announced the decision yesterday, Tuesday, to stop the spread of the Covid-19 virus to patients and staff.

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The exceptions allows one person to visit if:

- the patient is receiving end-of-life care

- the visitor needs to be accompanied – accompanying visitors should not stay in patient, ward or communal areas

- they are a birthing partner accompanying a woman in labour

- an adult is accompanying their child in a paediatric or neonatal department.

Relatives will need to contact the ward or department in advance to discuss appropriate arrangements.

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The trust said online: "In the community, colleagues must aim for a minimal number of visits, instead using technology to facilitate remote appointments. We know that many teams are doing this already and that is much appreciated.

"For urgent outpatient appointments, please ask patients to come into the hospital on their own. If, for example, they have been driven in, then the driver and anyone else should wait in the car."

The hospital can be contacted on 01423 885959.

By Jacob Webster, Local Democracy Reporter