Press release – December 23 2021                       

PR 035/2021

Wye Valley NHS Trust has eased visiting restrictions to allow patients to see friends and relatives over the festive period.

Each patient will be allowed to see two visitors on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

Currently visiting is suspended to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Each visit can last up to 45 minutes and the two visitors can visit at the same time or separately between midday and 4pm on each of the days.

Arrangements will have to be agreed with the nurse in charge to ensure social distancing is maintained on the wards.

“Patients benefit hugely from having visitors and we’d like to thank friends and relatives of our patients for their understanding at the current time,” said Lucy Flanagan, Chief Nursing Officer at the Trust.

“This time of the year is very special and we’re pleased to be able to relax visiting arrangements on these three days. All we ask is that visits are agreed in advance with the nurse in charge to make sure any risk of transmission is kept to a minimum.”

Visiting arrangements on the Children’s ward, in maternity and on the Special Care Baby Unit continue unchanged.

On the rare occasion that a ward needs to close, visiting will be suspended.

Ends

Notes to Editors WVT:

• Wye Valley NHS Trust is a provider of health services across Herefordshire and beyond. The Trust exists to improve the wellbeing, independence and health of the people we serve.
• By working closely with our partners, we can make good our promise to deliver a quality of care we would want for ourselves, our families and our friends.
• With an estimated annual turnover of around £185 million, we employ around 3,000 staff. We aim to build new relationships between our staff, patients, service users and their carers with the wider community.

For further information please contact:

Fiona Gurney, communications officer, or John Burnett, Communication and Engagement Manager, Wye Valley NHS Trust: 01432 372928.