Visitors are now allowed at Mid Yorkshire Hospitals - but strict new rules have been introduced

Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, who run Pinderfields, Pontefract and Dewsbury Hospitals, said they were "very pleased" to be able to once again begin inviting patients into the hospitals.

However, strict rules will be in place, and people are reminded that they should not visit if they have a fever, cough, or a change in their sense of taste or smell.

In a Facebook post, the Trust said: "The national suspension on visiting has now been lifted and we are very pleased to be able to start welcoming visitors back to our hospitals.

"We appreciate how hard it has been to keep in touch with loved ones who are in hospital with these restrictions in place. We’d like to thank you for your support and understanding during this difficult time.

"The health, safety and wellbeing of our patients, communities and individuals and teams remain our absolute priority. With that in mind, please bear with us whilst we reintroduce visiting, as we understand many of you will be eager to visit, but we need to ensure this is done safely, ensuring social distancing and other government advice is followed.

New rules around visiting include:

⚫ Visitors will be permitted only in areas classed as 'Green' - which means there are no confirmed or suspected coronavirus patients

⚫ A limit of one family member or close friend per patient will be in place

⚫ Visits may last for up to an hour

⚫ All visits will need to be booked with the Trust's PALS team, who will advise on any arrangements and what to expect when they visit. The team an be contacted on 01924 542972 between Monday to Friday 9am – 4pm.

⚫ Masks or face coverings must be worn at all times, and should not be touched or removed during the visit

⚫ Hand washing will be encouraged on arrival, leaving and when arriving home

⚫ Visitors should bring as few belongings as possible to minimise the risk of infection

⚫ Social distancing guidelines should be followed at all times, though visitors are advised that this is not possible for staff who are caring for patients

Variations on the rules may be allowed in special circumstances, but these will need to be agreed with hospital staff om a case-by-case basis.

You can view the full guidance on the Mid Yorkshire NHS Trust website here.