Some hospitals restrict visitors as flu cases rise

Some hospitals across the country have restricted visitors as the number of patients admitted with flu in England is rising.

The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust have all made changes to visitor policies to protect patients.

It comes after figures from NHS England showed an average of 4,469 flu patients were in beds in England each day last week, including 211 in critical care, which is more than four times the number on December 1, when the figure was 1,098.

The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, which runs the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford and the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital in Shrewsbury, has reduced visiting in hospitals due to the rising numbers of flu, Covid and other winter illnesses.

The trust is also asking all patients, visitors and staff to wear masks.

There are a number of exceptions where visiting is permitted, which include: when a patient is considered at the end of their life; when a patient is given a life-limiting or palliative diagnosis; when a patient needs support with communication, dietary or mental health needs; for birthing partners, for parents and carers of children and for children under 16, with an adult visitor.

Specific guidance for maternity services has been issued separately.

The hospital trust said it expects it will review its visiting guidelines next week.

Paula Gardner, interim chief nursing officer from the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, said: “Due to the rising numbers of flu, Covid-19 and other winter illnesses, we have made the difficult decision to reduce visiting to essential visitors only, including for critical patients, birthing partners and other select groups.

“This will protect our most vulnerable patients and reduce the rising spread of infections. We are also asking all patients, visitors and staff to wear masks and practise good hand hygiene.

“We are grateful for everyone’s support in following these necessary measures, which are essential for keeping everyone safe. We know how important visitors are to a patient’s care and if anyone needs support to speak to a patient, please contact the ward, who will do everything they can to support and keep you informed. We will continue to keep these measures under regular review and will fully reintroduce visiting as soon as we can.

“We also urge everyone who is eligible to get their winter vaccinations, as it is not too late and this is the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones.”

Meanwhile, Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust has closed visitor access to some of its wards and departments.

The trust said to check with a ward or department staff before visiting a patient.

At Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford no visiting is permitted in the emergency department, acute medical unit, except for patients receiving end-of-life care, the trust added.

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has put additional visiting restrictions in place due to the rising number of cases of norovirus, flu, RSV and Covid in hospitals.

For all adult inpatient areas, visiting hours have been reduced to 3pm to 6pm; for all areas including wards and the emergency department, a maximum of one visitor at a time is allowed who must be aged over 12. Restrictions are also in place for paediatrics.

Additional visiting may be allowed on compassionate grounds, and the trust added this should be discussed and arranged with the ward.

All visitors will be required to wear a mask in clinical areas.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said it will only permit patients to be accompanied by one person in all areas of the emergency department to prevent further spread of the flu.

It added that it may restrict visiting to wards due to outbreaks of flu, Covid and RSV, and advised people to check with the ward before visiting.