News

A new booking system is being launched in local Community Hospital and mental health wards as part of an easing of visiting restrictions this week.

At the start of the Covid19 outbreak in March all Community Hospitals (in Worcestershire) and mental health wards (across Herefordshire and Worcestershire) were closed to visitors to minimise risk of infection and to keep patients and staff as safe as possible. Instead virtual visiting was rolled out, with staff supporting patients to stay in touch with their families via video links.

But from this week visiting restrictions at Malvern Community Hospital, Wyre Forest Ward, Princess of Wales Community Hospital in Bromsgrove, Pershore Community Hospital, Evesham Community Hospital and Tenbury Community Hospital will be eased. It means that each patients will benefit from a 1hr visit from the same relative/close friend per week. The visitor must be the same person throughout their stay and they will be asked to book their visiting slot in advance.

Local Community Hospitals are run by Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust which is also responsible for mental health services across Herefordshire and Worcestershire too. The new visiting system also applies to mental health wards across both counties, including Holt Ward, Hillcrest and New Haven in Worcestershire, and the Stonebow Unit in Herefordshire.

Hannah Wilson, Deputy Director of Nursing & Therapy at Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, said: “We know that visiting has a huge benefit for patients in our community hospitals and mental health wards but over the last few months we have had to improvise and be creative with virtual methods of keeping patients in touch with their loved ones. While we are still not able to get visiting back to pre-Covid levels, we are pleased to be able to ease the restrictions so patients can spend some face to face time with a family member/close friend during their stay with us. We look forward to welcoming families/friends back into our wards as normal when it is safe to do so, but for now we hope people understand that the health and safety of all our patients and staff is paramount.”

Visitors will also be required to wear a face mask at all times during their visit. More information on guidance for visiting, including contact details to book visiting appointments, are available online at www.hacw.nhs.uk/visiting

Please note:

The new visiting system will also apply to Worcester City Inpatient Unit but from a slightly later date of September 7^th. Visiting at the Worcestershire Royal, Alexandra and Kidderminster Hospitals which are run by Worcestershire Acute Trust remain closed, as it does as the Hereford County Hospital run by Wye Valley Trust.