Hospital visiting changes after localised Covid-19 restrictions

TWO health trusts have introduced new limits on hospital visits in line with Stormont's localised Covid-19 restrictions.

Hospitals and care homes in the affected areas – Belfast City Council area, Ballymena town and the postcode areas BT28, BT29 and BT43 – have been advised by Stormont to limit visitors to one family member once a week.

In Belfast trust hospitals, only one member of a family will be permitted a visit once a week. This must be by appointment arranged with a nurse in charge of the relevant ward.

Visits will be allowed in exceptional circumstances including palliative and end-of-life care.

The only exceptions are the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, where any child admitted can be accompanied by one parent, and the Royal Jubilee Maternity Hospital, where those in labour can be accompanied by one partner.

The South Eastern health trust announced the same restrictions at the Ulster Hospital in Dundonald and the Lagan Valley Hospitals in Lisburn.

It said the restrictions, which will last for a minimum of two weeks before being reviewed, also apply to residential and nursing homes in some parts of the trust.

It comes as the Southern trust suspended visiting at all its hospitals and other facilities following recent Covid-19 clusters at Craigavon Area Hospital.

From last Friday, only visits to so-called "end-of-life" patients and partners who have given birth are permitted under the new arrangements.