New rules have come into force today (13 July) that allow non COVID patients to receive one visitor a day if arranged in advance - but there are very strict rules visitors must follow.
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman says that patients will be allowed to have a non-essential visit from one named visitor. Visitors will need to wear a face covering and shouldn't visit if they have any COVID symptoms at all.
Visitors are also not allowed to bring in food parcels, flowers, balloons or similar items as part of infection control measures. You can read a full account of the daily briefing here.
New rules on visiting family and friends in hospital in full:
All hospital visitors must:
- arrange a time to visit in advance with ward staff
- not visit any other patient in the hospital
- adhere to strict hand hygiene and face covering guidance
- maintain strict physical distancing in communal areas of hospital
- not visit anyone in hospital if they have symptoms suggestive of COVID-19
Specific visiting arrangements may vary between health boards depending on the type of care patients are receiving, and the space available in different care settings to maintain physical distancing.
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said:
“Restricting access to people in hospital has been necessary to keep patients and staff as safe as possible and it has helped us protect the capacity and resilience of NHS Scotland.
“I want to thank everyone who has followed this guidance as I know how hard it has been for patients, families and carers not to have seen their loved ones in hospital. The continued progress we are making in suppressing the virus has allowed us to safely, and in a series of phases, resume hospital visiting in line with clinical expert advice.
“There is a need to balance the risk of physical and psychological harm that the absence of visitors can cause, with the gradual reduction of COVID-19. We have worked with Health Protection Scotland to plan how we safely restore a person-centered approach to visiting in Scotland’s hospitals.
“The safety of patients, staff and visitors will continue to be our priority. I want to reassure you that we are taking these precautions so that we can safely offer the right care, at the right time, in the right place.”
