VISITING for all patients is to resume at Gobowen's RJAH hospital next week, for the first time since the beginning of the Covid pandemic.

After restrictions were imposed on visitors during the coronavirus pandemic, patient visiting when it resumed was limited to those with the longest stays at the Gobowen-based hospital.

But now, in line with changes happening at other hospitals around the country and with the latest national guidance, this is being revised to allow all patients to welcome visitors to their bedsides.

Sara Ellis-Anderson, chief nurse and patient safety officer at RJAH, said: "The halt we put on visiting towards earlier this year was the right thing to do to protect our patients and our staff.

"But we know that being in hospital can be a difficult time for people, and not being able to see any of their family or loved ones has made it even harder."

She added: "We’ve tried to help them with technology to allow virtual contact, but nothing beats being able to talk to someone face-to-face."

From now on patients will be allowed one or more named visitors, but they need to book their visits with the ward clerk in the ward their loved one is staying.

Individual wards will be able to use their own discretions with the time slots offered to visitors.

Visitors will be required to wear face masks when visiting if they have confirmed or are suspected to have Covid-19 or other respiratory illnesses, like the flu, also those who are deemed clinically extremely vulnerable.

Guests should also follow guidance on good hygiene while on hospital site.