'No visitors allowed' at Northampton General Hospital barring 'exceptional circumstances'

Northampton General has announced today it will not allow any visitors into the hospital.

With only a few exceptions, the hospital will now turn away anyone asking to visit patients on their wards.

NGH says it wants to thank the community for their support but is taking the steps to protect patients and staff from the spread of coronavirus.The following departments have some exceptions.

Maternity wards will allow only one birth partner as long as they are not displaying any symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19).

The children's wards - Disney and Paddington - will one parent or guardian only. No other visitors or siblings will be allowed on the wards.

The Gosset ward for neonatal intensive care will allow one parent only and no other visitors or siblings.

NGH's A&E will allow one visitor only and no children as visitors. Please be aware that if you do bring more than one person with you our teams will ask additional visitors to leave unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Meanwhile, the hospital is asking anyone with another reason to visit the hospital - such as outpatient appointments - to not bring any visitors.

The hospital announcement issued today reads: "If it is essential that you have a visitor with you please make sure that you only bring one person and that you do not bring any children.

"In the upsetting or difficult circumstance where patients may be at the end of their lives different visiting restrictions will apply. These times are to be agreed at the discretion of the nurse in charge.

"If you do need to visit the hospital you must use the hand gel provided or wash your hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds. This should be done when you enter the hospital site, when you enter a clinical area and leaving the site.

"Please do not visit the site unless you have an appointment or need emergency care."