Coronavirus: QA suspends visiting in bid to restrict spread of Covid-19

The hospital has tonight announced that visiting is suspended with immediate effect – and has apologised for any distress it may cause, but has insisted that it is necessary to protect patients.

A statement from the hospital said: ‘We understand that this may be upsetting and are sorry for any distress that this may cause. However your health, safety and wellbeing, that of our patients, our communities and individuals and teams across the organisation remains our absolute priority.’

There are several cases in which visiting is still permitted, and people will have to contact the ward or department in advance to discuss arrangements.

The exceptions are:

when the patient is receiving end-of-life care when the visitor needs to be accompanied – accompanying visitors should not stay in patient, ward or communal areas when they are a birthing partner accompanying a woman in labour

Different rules apply to paediatrics and for newborn babies:

The statement said: ‘In the paediatric and neonatal departments, only one parent or appropriate adult is able to be with their child at any given time and currently no other children will be able to visit.

‘Please find other ways of keeping in touch, like phone and video calls.

‘We continue to work closely with national health and safety bodies and follow national guidance to ensure that all of our practices are safe and meet the necessary requirements.’

The hospital and its chief executive Mark Cubbon has urged everyone to follow national guidance and stay at home to help limit the spread of coronavirus.

The statement said: ‘Thank you for your continued support and understanding at this challenging time. We are working on ways to support you to keep in touch with loved ones who are inpatients at QA and will keep you updated.’