15 June 2020

Local hospital visiting restrictions currently remain in-place

Hospital patients and attendees required to wear Hospital-provided face masks

NHS Hospitals across Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin have updated their advice for visitors and outpatients, in-line with guidance, in order to keep visitors, patients and staff safe.

Although specific restrictions on visitors to the county’s hospitals are still in-place for the time being, anyone who is specifically allowed to visit a patient, due to an exception to the current restrictions, or is attending the hospital as an outpatient from Monday 15 June will need to wear a hospital-provided face mask during the whole of their visit, in order to reduce the spread of coronavirus.

Commenting on the change of guidance, Zena Young, Executive Director of Quality at NHS Shropshire CCG and NHS Telford &Wrekin CCG said: “We can all play a role in reducing the spread of coronavirus and keeping our hospitals safe. So, if you are coming to hospital either as a visitor or for planned treatment, it is important that you wear a face mask at all times. This is for your safety and the safety of other patients and staff.

“All visitors to our local hospitals will be provided with an appropriate face mask to wear, and all visitors will continue to be expected to comply with existing social distancing and hand hygiene measures in addition to the face coverings while in the hospital setting.”

Patients that are currently shielding should also have been provided with a surgical face mask for their hospital appointment, and are requested to continue to use this. If they have not been provided with a surgical face mask prior to attending, they will be provided one on arrival.

Patients who have any specific requirements should speak to a member of staff, the hospital will have a range of communication options to ensure that they can communicate with these patients.

Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin’s NHS hospitals are continually reviewing policies and procedures to make sure they are able to allow visitors to see patients, where it is safe to do so. Anyone wishing to visit a patient in one of Shropshire’s main hospitals in Shrewsbury, Telford or Oswestry, one of the county’s community hospitals in Bridgnorth, Ludlow, Whitchurch or Craven Arms or the Redwoods Centre in Shrewsbury should check with the specific hospital or ward area to find out their current visiting arrangements, prior to arriving.

CURRENT VISITING RESTRICTIONS IN SHROPSHIRE AND TELFORD & WREKIN:

Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and Princess Royal Hospital, Telford:

Currently not allowing visitors to the hospital. Exceptions to the suspension of visiting will be applied to Children’s Services, Maternity and the Neonatal Department, end of life care patients and patients with specific needs.

  • Children’s Ward: One parent/carer will be allowed to be with the child. Two named visitors are permitted and these visitors can alternate.
  • Maternity: One birthing partner will be allowed into the delivery suite. Staff will contact birthing partners when women are transferred to the delivery suite.
  • Neonatal unit: will allow parents only to visit.
  • End of life care patients will be permitted to receive visitors but this will be restricted to next of kin and an additional two visitors.
  • Specific needs: You will be able to accompany someone into our hospitals if you are;
    • ◦supporting them and the patient has a mental health issue such as dementia, a learning disability or autism, where not being present would cause the patient to be distressed.
    • a carer for a vulnerable patient or translator

https://www.sath.nhs.uk/news/visiting-suspension/

Robert Jones & Agnes Hunt Hospital (Oswestry)

Currently not allowing visitors to the hospital, with the exception of patients on end of life care pathways.

 Ludlow Hospital, Bridgnorth Hospital, Whitchurch Hospital & Bishops Castle Hospital

Currently not allowing visitors to the hospital, with the exception of patients on end of life care pathways.

https://www.shropscommunityhealth.nhs.uk/news?itemid=10336

Redwoods Centre (Shrewsbury):

Currently not allowing visitors to the centre. The only exceptional circumstances where one visitor – an immediate family member or carer – will be permitted to visit are listed below:

  • The patient is receiving end-of-life care
  • The visitor is a parent or appropriate adult visiting your child
  • The visitor is supporting someone with a mental health issue such as dementia, a learning disability or autism, where not being present would cause the patient to be distressed

https://www.mpft.nhs.uk/service-users-carers/coronavirus-information