Visiting restrictions at Northampton General Hospital to partially lift from NEXT WEEK

Visiting restrictions at Northampton General Hospital will be partially lifted next week after more than a year of strict rules to prevent the spread of Covid-19

The Cliftonville hospital will allow pre-booked visits from Wednesday (May 5) as lockdown eases.

Visits will be a 45-minute allocation between 2pm and 6pm and will be one person per patient.

Existing arrangements will remain in place for maternity, children’s wards and end-of-life care.

Hospital bosses are however warning that visitors should strictly follow infection control guidance and maintain their hands, face, space observance to minimise the risk of Covid-19 being passed on.

Northampton General Hospital’s Director of Nursing and Midwifery, Sheran Oke, said: “We understand how frustrating, and at time upsetting, it will have been over the last year for people to be unable to visit their loved ones when they are in hospital.

“But clearly hospitals have restricted visiting for very good reasons and to protect both our patients and staff from Covid-19.

“We know how much visiting means to families and do want to start to be able to do this again.

“But we must urge people to be sensible. When on hospital premises they must always wear masks, wash their hands regularly, maintain social distance and follow all the guidance given them to our staff.

“Hospitals remain very sensitive to infection and the Covid-19 pandemic is not over.”

Under new restrictions, generally, one visitor will be allowed per patient, per allocated time slot.

Visiting must be booked in advance, children are not allowed and wards which have infected or exposed patients cannot be visited except in the case of end-of-life.

A&E, outpatients, urgent care (including Esther White and Walter Tull wards at NGH) and diagnostic visits remain restricted to the patient attending only – unless there are exceptional circumstances.

To book at a visiting slot, the visitor must call the ward between 9.30am and 11.30am the day prior to their visit to book a 45-minute allocated slot. Visiting times are 2pm-6pm daily.

All changes enforced at NGH are also being enforced at Kettering General Hospital too.

Visit the hospital’s website to find out more.

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