By Update on hospital restrictions in Grimsby and Scunthorpe
Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust, which runs both Diana Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby and Scunthorpe General Hospital, has announced changes to visiting restrictions.
Visiting restrictions have shifted considerably since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.
Last month, the trust announced it would be easing restrictions in line with national guidelines, allowing one named person to visit each inpatient twice a day.
The trust has now taken further steps to allow patients to spend time with loved ones.
Today it has been announced that from Monday March 14, visiting will be opened to two named visitors, one at a time, twice a day.
There is no need to book in advance but patients and visitors are asked to coordinate visiting to ensure only one person attends at once.
Sadly, children under 16 are still not allowed to visit.
There is no need to book, you can just turn up.
Admission areas such as the Integrated Acute Assessment Unit are also now open to visiting.
Our Chief Nurse, Ellie Monkhouse, said: “We hope the news of easing our restrictions further will come as good news to our patients, their families and friends.
“Our priority is the safety of our patients and while we welcome the return of visitors, we must ease our visiting restrictions safely in a phased approach.
“Visitors must continue to wear a face mask (unless exempt) and should take a lateral flow test on the day of their visit before coming to the hospital, to ensure they are not unknowingly spreading Coronavirus.
“Anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or has symptoms should not attend.”
Patients should continue to attend appointments alone, but those attending the Emergency Department can now be accompanied by one other person.
The trust says it will continue to adjust restrictions as the situation develops.
