The Western Health and Social Care Trust has announced that ‘1-1-1’ visiting restrictions, (one visitor per patient for one hour, once a day), will now apply to all Western Trust facilities, with the exception of Altnagelvin Hospital, which will continue to restrict visitors to once a week (in most circumstances).
The daily restrictions will continue to apply to the majority of Western Trust sites, including Omagh Primary Care Complex, Waterside Hospital and the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH) – that means one visitor per patient for one hour, once a day.
A Trust spokesperson said: "Due to the continued pressures experienced in the northwest, Altnagelvin will continue to operate more restrictive [visiting] measures.
“This is a position we are monitoring closely and will hope to be in a position to amend should Covid-19 community transmission in the northwest and pressures on teams in Altnagelvin reduce.
"In addition, given the clinical vulnerability of the patient group, particularly in the haematology setting, visiting in the North West Cancer Centre will continue to be restricted to assessment on an individual basis involving the patient, family and team."
This position is to be reviewed again this Thursday, September 23.
More frequent visiting in exceptional circumstances, such as at the end of life, will continue to be permitted, as will visiting for birthing partners to maternity services, each in a risk-assessed way.
Paediatric wards (children’s) in Altnagelvin and the SWAH will continue to permit a parent to be at the child’s bedside, ensuring this is risk-assessed and in a Covid-19-secure way.
"This will remain under review and risk-assessed accordingly, and in response to any further increase in infection rates impacting on any particular department, e.g. an inability to retain a Covid-19-secure environment of care.
“The safety of patients and staff will always be to the forefront of any decision made," said the Trust spokesperson, adding: "These steps have been taken due to the high risk of community transmission of Covid-19 across the Western Trust geography, and to ensure the safety of both patients and staff."
Patients have also been reminded only to attend A&E alone, where possible. Children and vulnerable adults can be accompanied by one person.
If you are planning to visit one of the Trust's hospitals or facilities, please do NOT do so if you:
• Are currently unwell with a high temperature or fever;
• Have had a first positive test for Covid-19 in the past 28 days;
• You have been advised to self-isolate; or
• Had any vaccine (including flu) in the past seven days..
Anyone attending any Western Trust Facility is also reminded to wear a face covering (unless exempt for medical reasons) and to adhere to social distancing and hand-hygiene rules.