NHS Highland confirms that hospital visiting is to re-start on a phased basis as the likes of Raigmore Hospital, in Inverness, and other health sites ease Covid-19 coronavirus lockdown restrictions
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HOSPITAL visiting is to re-start on a phased business, NHS Highland has announced.
The Covid-19 pandemic forced the suspension of visits in all but a few exceptional situations to minimise its spread and protect patients and staff.
But heath chiefs said that now that the pandemic is showing signs of being contained, the "time is right to reintroduce visiting to hospitals on a phased basis", although it stressed that "visits will need to be managed carefully".
Kate Patience-Quate, deputy nurse director for NHS Highland, said: “We recognise how challenging the restrictions on visiting have been for people in hospital, their loved ones and the staff and I would like to offer my thanks to all for their understanding when we had to suspend visiting across our sites.
“Now that we are easing slowly out of lockdown we have been working hard on plans to reintroduce visiting to ensure that our patients, members of the public and our staff remain as safe as possible.
“While Covid areas within hospitals will remain as essential visiting only other inpatients areas across the hospital will be opened up and able to welcome visitors by prior arrangement.”
Each person in hospital is now able to have one Designated Visitor. There will be no set time when visits can take place but they must all be arranged in advance with the nurse or midwife in charge of the ward to ensure we can limit the number of people in one area to ensure physical distancing.
To support NHS Highland in keeping everyone safe visitors will be asked to -
- wear a face covering whilst inside the hospital
- clean / wash your hands on arrival / before entering the ward
- maintain the recommended physical distance wherever possible even if the person has previously been in your household or social bubble
- if you cough or sneeze, make sure you follow good hygiene practice – cough or sneeze into the crook of your elbow or a disposable tissue
- clean /wash your hands as you leave the ward or department, as you leave the hospital and when you arrive home
The health authority is also asking everyone coming in as a Designated Visitor to provide their contact details; this is normal in the current circumstances and is to assist Public Health, Trace and Protect colleagues should there be a need to contact you.
Kate Patience-Quate added: “Covid-19 is extremely infectious and its effects have been devastating. The infection can be passed very easily from person to person and the use of public spaces, especially indoors, and close contact increase that risk. Reintroducing social routines including visiting has to be done with extreme care.
“I’m pleased that we are now able to reintroduce visiting to our sites but would ask that everyone please be patient as we all get used to this new way or working. We will continue to monitor and assess how visiting is going and make improvements if needed.”
NHS Highland’s midwifery team are looking forward to welcoming partners and designated visitors back to all areas of maternity care in hospital and community settings.
Scottish Government guidance with regard to visiting in Maternity Units will be published on the Scottish Government website and NHS Inform website later today.
NHS Highland said its maternity team are working closely with infection prevention and control colleagues to ensure clinic and ward areas meet safe distancing recommendations.
It added that this had been challenging for some areas where clinic space and multi-bedded wards are small in size; for example in the maternity scan departments in Raigmore and Caithness General Hospitals. Local risk assessments have been undertaken in these areas and health chiefs are looking at what they can do about this and are hopeful of a solution.
All women who are booked to attend for scan are being contacted by their community midwife or the scan department team, to make them aware of the position with regard to this.
If your relative is in Raigmore Hospital contact the Raigmore Hospital switchboard on 01463 704 000 and ask to be transferred to the appropriate ward.
If your relative is in any other hospital across the NHS Highland area, contact the hospital and ask to be transferred.”
Contact details for all NHS Highland hospitals can be accessed at www.nhshighland.scot.nhs.uk/Services/Pages/Hospitals.aspx.
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