LONG-stay hospital patients will be able to have a visitor again from this week after restrictions were eased.

A nominated visitor aged 16 and over will now be able to see a family member or friend who has been in hospital for 10 days or more.

At Ross-on-Wye Hospital, there will be limited visiting allowed for half-hour slots or up to 45 minutes at the weekend.

All visitors will be screened at the entrance to the hospital, which means having temperatures taken and checks made to ensure they are not at risk of bringing an infection onto the hospital site.

They will also be required to wear a surgical mask and maintain good hand hygiene, and wear a surgical mask during the visit if clinically appropriate.

Restrictions were put in place earlier this year to protect patients, visitors and staff following the Covid-19 outbreak.

Children under the age of 16 will not be permitted to visit other than in exceptional circumstances.

Wye Valley NHS Trust, which runs Hereford County Hospital and the county’s community hospitals, said patients benefited from receiving visitors the time is now right to allow them into its hospitals.

Lucy Flanagan, Director of Nursing at the Trust, said: “We want to pay tribute to all those patients who have been in hospital during the last few months and who have not been allowed to see visitors.

“We know this hasn’t been easy but want to thank them for respecting the visiting restrictions, this has enabled us to ensure patients are being treated in the safest environment possible.

“We know patients benefit from seeing visitors and during the outbreak we’ve made use of technology to allow virtual visitors onto our wards, we also introduced the “thinking of you” and “hearts connected” initiatives.

“We appreciate this isn’t the same as having a real person beside your bed so we’re pleased to be able to lift visiting restrictions in a way which is safe for our patients, visitors and staff members.

“There are still a few areas of the hospital where we cannot safely allow visitors, so the restrictions have not entirely been lifted, but for those patients who have been in for ten days or more, it now means they can now see visitors.”

Visitors will also be required to wear a surgical mask and maintain good hand hygiene. Patients will also be required to wear a surgical mask during the visit if clinically appropriate.

The visiting arrangements at Ross-on-Wye Hospital are 5.45pm-6.15pm or 6.30pm-7pm weekdays and either 2.45pm-3.15pm or 3.15pm-4pm at weekends.

At Hereford County Hospital, a single nominated visitor will be permitted to visit the patient for the duration of their stay (not multiple visitors on different occasions).

All visits must be booked by prior appointment with the nurse in charge, and visiting hours are Monday to Friday 6-7pm and weekends 2-3pm.

For more information, see www.wyevalley.nhs.uk