VISITING rules at the two main hospitals in Bradford have changed in light of the latest Covid-19 guidance.

Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Bradford Royal Infirmary, St Luke's Hospital and four community hospitals, has announced the changes.

They add that they are still doing everything possible to keep patients and visitors safe.

It means patients in most wards can have one visitor and those attending A&E or as an outpatient can have one person with them for support.

Both parents can visit a sick child on the children's ward at the same time, and a birth partner can now stay for the duration of an expectant mum's labour, and for prenatal scans.

While visitors are no longer required to take a lateral flow test - they should not attend any of the hospitals if they have any Covid symptoms, are isolating or are feeling unwell, for example with diarrhoea or vomiting.

To help keep patients and staff safe, people must wear a face mask at all times inside its hospitals.

The rules also recommend washing hands or using hand gel frequently and maintaining social distancing where possible.

The trust has reviewed its visiting rules in line with the latest Living with Covid-19 guidance issued by the Government.

These new rules in full, which came into effect on April 1, are as follows:

Visiting for inpatients in hospitals is now allowed on all Green and Red wards as follows:

  • All patients can have one visit each day of up to an hour from one person.
  • It is recommended that visits are between 2pm-4pm and 6pm-8pm.
  • Visits should be booked direct with the ward.
  • Visitors to wards must wear appropriate PPE for that ward – this will be provided.

Visiting Ultra Green wards

  • Patients in over 72 hours can have one visitor for one hour a day.

Children’s wards

  • Both parents are allowed to visit or be on the ward at the same time.
  • Siblings will not routinely be allowed on the wards until the patient has been in over 72 hours.

Outpatients

  • Outpatients can now have an accompanying adult with them if they wish to.

Maternity visiting

  • Labour ward and Birth Centre: a birth partner can stay for the duration of labour. This person is not interchangeable.
  • Wards M3 and M4: one person can visit between 10am and 7pm. This person is not interchangeable.

Prenatal scans

  • Women are allowed to have one adult with them at all scans. This person should be the birthing partner or from the same household.

Neonatal Unit

  • Grandparents are now allowed to visit – you can call the unit and pre-book a visit.

Visiting A&E

  • Patients can have one other person with them for support. In times of extreme pressure on the department, visitors may be asked to wait in other areas.

There are also changes for visiting in exceptional circumstances and full information can be found on bradfordhospitals.nhs.uk.

The Trust has put in place a number of resources to support family members and visitors unable to visit patients, including a Relatives' Line which takes calls for some of the wards on 01274 272747, and a dedicated email address for loves ones to send letters via email on ThinkingOfYou@bthft.nhs.uk.

Many wards have video calling in place and there is a patient property team who can accept and take belongings to inpatients.

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