HAMPSHIRE Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (HHFT) has announced that the trust will now allow one visitor per patient to be booked in advance.

As of Monday (April 25) the trust allows the one visitor to be booked for a one hour slot by contacting the nurse in charge of the ward.

If the patient is a child, one parent, guardian or carer is permitted to stay with them in the hospital while they are an inpatient.

HHFT have confirmed this guidance will not impact on the arrangements in place for maternity services where birthing partners are already permitted, or for patients in receipt of palliative or end of life care for whom visitors have been allowed throughout the pandemic.

On Twitter the trust posted: "We've updated our visiting guidance to welcome back one visitor per patient, to be booked in advance. Please take a look at our website for the full details before visiting."

Visitors are still encouraged to complete a negative lateral flow test on the same day as visiting. All visitors are required to wear a surgical mask at all times unless exempt and must follow social distancing guidance whilst inside the hospitals.

To help keep everyone safe, HHFT are still unable to support visiting patients who have tested positive for Covid.

For more information visit: hampshirehospitals.nhs.uk/patients-visitors/coming-hospital/visiting-during-covid-19-1.

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