Families could still be given permission to see patients in County Durham hospitals, despite a current ban on visits.
Relatives, friends and loved ones are currently barred from attending wards at eight separate facilities due to the ongoing second wave of coronavirus infections.
But health bosses have suggested exceptions may be made where possible, so long as doctors are satisfied it can be done safely within existing Covid-19 restrictions.
“We’re currently in wave two of Covid and have more patients than we had in wave one,” said Sue Jacques, chief executive at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust (CDDFT).
“We’ve consequently put restrictions on visiting, which limits visiting to anyone approaching end of life.
“It’s critical we do that to ensure we can socially distance and we don’t have spread of Covid within hospitals.
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“We keep it under continual review and as and when numbers reduce we will reintroduce a more normal visiting pattern.
“We do take enquiries from anyone with specific circumstances and will look at those on an individual basis.”
Ms Jacques was speaking at Monday's meeting of the county council’s Adults, Wellbeing and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee, which was held by videolink and broadcast via YouTube.
Restrictions on visiting at CDDFT’s sites were imposed in September and applied to all adult inpatient wards.
However, at the same time exemptions were also set out for:
- Patients receiving end of life care
- Women in labour
- Children in emergency departments, children’s wards and neonatal units
- Patients with dementia, a learning disability or autism
