Due to the ongoing risks associated with coronavirus COVID-19, visiting at University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT) will remain temporarily suspended.
In exceptional circumstances, one visitor (an immediate family member or carer) is permitted to visit if:
- The patient is receiving end-of-life care
- The visitor is a birthing partner accompanying a woman in labour
- The visitor is a parent or appropriate adult visiting their child
- The visitor is supporting someone with conditions such as dementia, a learning disability or autism, where not being present would cause the patient to be distressed
Visitors for the above must be agreed with the nurse in charge of the ward before attending the hospital. Please agree one main point of contact per patient and this should be the only person that contacts the ward by telephone to arrange visiting.
Sue Smith OBE, Executive Chief Nurse and Deputy Chief Executive, UHMBT, said: “We understand how difficult it must be to have a loved one in hospital and not be able to visit them because of coronavirus, and we want to thank everyone that is helping to protect our patients and colleagues by following these restrictions.
“While many of our patients are still able to keep connected via smart phones, we know that this is not always possible.
“To make sure that relatives can still reach out and provide comfort to those staying in our hospitals, the Trust’s Patient Experience team is providing a new service where friends and family can send their loved ones a message via the Trust website which is then delivered to the patient directly. We also have a small supply of iPads in each hospital to allow our patients to video call their family and friends.
“We understand that visiting is very important to our patients and their loved ones and as soon as we are able to lift the suspension, we will. In the meantime, we would ask for the public’s help in continuing to respect these rules to help us all stay safe.”
Relatives and friends can share messages with their loved ones in hospital by filling in the form on the Trust’s website at: https://www.uhmb.nhs.uk/get-in-touch/staying-connected-your-loved-ones.
As well as the above restrictions, you should not visit any health and care settings if you:
- are unwell (especially if you have a high temperature or a new, persistent cough)
- are vulnerable as a result of medication
- have a chronic illness
- are over 70 years of age
The latest coronavirus guidance is available at gov.uk/coronavirus.