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Visitors allowed again for some hospital patients
17/03/2022
The Rule Of One is being relaxed in many areas within the hospital
From today patients will once again be allowed visitors in many areas within the Horton General and other Oxford University Hospitals. The change in the rules comes as updated guidance is implemented.
Inpatients, including those in the Intensive Care Unit, can have up to two visitors a day between 8am and 8pm. There will be no restriction on how long the visitors can stay.
Those attending outpatient appointments can have one person accompany them.
The change in the rules follows NHS England’s latest advice and internal discussions within the Trust.
Since March 2021 the ‘Rule of One’ has been followed, allowing one visitor, for one hour, per day, per inpatient. Visitors haven’t been allowed in the Emergency Departments and Outpatient Departments unless there were exceptional circumstances.
Other changes will allow patients in Children’s Services to have two parents or guardians with them for as long as needed, but siblings are still asked to stay away.
Social distancing in the Outpatient Departments will reduce from 2 metres to 1 metre.
Some areas remain with tighter restrictions. Visitors will not be allowed in GP referral units and the Eye Hospital Emergency Department due to a high number of patients in these areas.
Emergency Assessment Units and Surgical Emergency Units will continue to follow the previous ‘Rule of One’ and for the time being visitors should not enter the Emergency Departments, unless there are exceptional circumstances.
Those planning on visiting someone with COVID-19 should speak to the Ward Manager before their visit.
The Trust is asking visitors to take a lateral flow test before visiting and to continue following COVID safety measures such as wearing a mask and social distancing.
Sam Foster, Chief Nursing Officer at OUH, said: “We have really missed the valuable input of visitors to our patients during the pandemic, and are pleased to welcome more of them back on-site in a controlled manner. We recognise that they play an important role in patient support and recovery, however we must still do all that we can to keep ourselves and those around us safe.
“COVID is still with us and we look after the sickest of patients – so people coming to our hospitals must still adhere to safety measures such as mask wearing and social distancing.”
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam