Thursday 07 April 2022
Falling Bailiwick Covid case numbers and associated PEH staff absences due to Covid has enabled HSC to remove most of the restrictions on visitors to the hospital.
Since 15 March patients in the PEH have only been allowed one visit by one person each visiting session, other than a few exceptions. From today, patients on the majority of wards will no longer be limited to just one visitor. The exception to this will be if circumstances on a particular ward require there to be temporary restrictions in place.
Currently Corbierre and Brehon are not allowing any visits due to Covid outbreaks on these wards.
While all other wards have reverted to their normal visiting arrangements at present, all attendees to the hospital are asked to take the following precautions before visiting:
- Take a lateral flow test before the intended visit and do not attend if positive
- Do not attend if displaying any Covid symptoms
- Wear a face covering throughout the time inside the hospital, which remains a mandatory requirement
If it is possible based on the circumstances, anyone attending the Emergency Department is also asked to take a LFT before attending.
Dr Peter Rabey, Hospital Director, said:
'We know how difficult any restrictions on visitors to patients in hospital can be and would only ever look to keep such measures in place for as long as they were deemed essential to protect our services. We currently have fewer Covid cases in the PEH and the community, and less staff off as a result of the infection, and so are very pleased to be able to lift these measures across the majority of wards. We will continue to closely monitor the situation on a ward by ward basis.
'We thank anyone impacted by the restrictions on vistors - past or present - for their patience and understanding. We also thank the community for continuing to take the simple steps to protect the hospital, by taking LFTs before visiting, staying away if they have any symptoms and wearing a face mask while onsite.'
Anyone attending any HSC sites or other healthcare settings are also asked to take a LFT before doing so, and to not attend with any symptoms except for treatment. Additional specific guidance in place for individual settings, such as the wearing of face coverings, should also be followed. GP practices are enabling individuals with Covid to attend in some circumstances, including for Covid treatment, if appropriate arrangements are made in advance.