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Phased reintroduction of patient visiting at Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals

Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals is reintroducing limited visiting to a small number of hospital wards from today Tuesday 1st June as COVID-19 restrictions ease.

A phased approach to visiting is possible due the reduction in COVID-19 infection in the community and will apply to the following wards Acute Cardiac Care Unit (ACCU), A7, A8, K25, B19 and the Intensive Care Unit. 

Patients on these wards will be able to receive one visitor, for up to one hour per day at an allocated slot which needs to be booked with the ward 24 hours in advance. 

There are some exceptions and different arrangements apply for children on inpatient wards, pregnant women using maternity services, those patients with a mental health issue or cognitive impairment and for those patients who are at the end of their life.

Visiting was suspended across the NHS in March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, except in exceptional circumstances, and the phased reintroduction will be reviewed before it is extended to other wards. 

Visitors must follow the safe visiting guidance issued to them throughout the visit and visiting will be restricted or suspended with immediate effect in the event of a spread of infection on hospital wards or in the local community.

Visitors who experience any of the symptoms of COVID-19 infection -   a high temperature,  a new, continuous cough or a loss or change to sense of smell or taste –  must not visit hospitals and should postpone any planned visit.

Chief Nurse and Deputy Chief Executive Kimberley Salmon-Jamieson said: “We know how important visits from family and friends are to patients when in hospital and we are working hard to deliver a safe reintroduction within a limited number of wards at this time.

“As we look to take this important next step it is vital that all patients and their visitors abide by the new visiting guidance by booking a slot in advance, arriving no earlier than the allocated slot and leaving the ward when this has finished.  It is also important to stress how important it remains to continue to adhere to social distancing, always wearing face coverings over the mouth and nose when on the hospital site and maintaining good hand hygiene.”

For details of the Warrington and Halton Hospitals Visiting Guidance visit here

For details on the main symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) visit NHS (www.nhs.uk)