Visitors will be allowed back at Basildon and Southend hospitals from tomorrow (Monday, April 12).

The Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust has confirmed patients will be allowed one visitor under new rules. 

The trust had banned all visitors to its hospitals due to the second wave of Covid infections back in January. 

But with lockdown rules easing from tomorrow and infection rates now low across Essex, visitors will be allowed back again. 

Here are the rules you need to be aware of:

General wards

Visiting times will be between 2-3pm, and 6-7pm. Only two visitors will be allowed on a single bay at one time due to social distancing rules. This means visits should be confirmed with ward staff in advance. 

Covid and surgical wards

No visitors are allowed on Covid or surgical wards.

Green wards

No visitors are allowed on Green wards - where patients are isolating prior to treatment.

End of life care

Two visitors are permitted for patients on end of life care.

Paediatrics

One parent or carer is allowed to accompany a child and can stay overnight.

Neonatal ICU

Parents or carers will be allocated three hour slots on a rota basis.

A & E

When attending the emergency department the patient may be accompanied by one close family contact, or somebody important to the patient, to support them with any complex/difficult decision making.

Outpatients

When attending an outpatient appointment, patients may be accompanied by one close family contact, or somebody important to the patient, to support them with any complex/difficult decision making.

The rules have also changed on maternity wards:

All visitors to maternity departments will need to have details taken, temperature checks on arrival and to wear face masks unless in a delivery room.

Labour Ward/Birthing Unit

Women admitted to labour ward/ the midwifery led birthing unit can have one birth partner accompanying for assessment. One visitor is also allowed during birth.

Women admitted to the labour ward for reasons outside of labour can have one person with them during admission.

Antenatal

Women coming in for induction of labour can have a birth partner attend for start of the procedure and then return home.

They will then be called back if the women is transferred to the labour ward or if contracting and needs support during this time.

Visiting on Antenatal ward for all inpatients to be commenced two hours in the afternoon/evening. Staggered times arranged per bed number.

Postnatal

Visiting to be increased from one hour in the afternoon/evening to two hours.

Staggered times depending on bed numbers.

Same visiting applied to post natal patients who remain on Labour ward.

Maternity ultrasound scans

One person can accompany, but care must be taken to maintain social distancing in waiting areas.

What have bosses said?

In a statement, the trust said :"Not all patients can bring a visitor when attending the emergency department.

"To ensure the safety of both staff and patients only vulnerable patients who require complex/difficult decision making may be accompanied by one close family contact, or somebody important to the patient, to support them.

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"This applies to outpatients and diagnosis settings as well.

"All visitors will have to adhere to all the infection control guidelines, including wearing PPE. Patients in critical care (non-covid areas) will be allowed one visitor – but by prior arrangement with the critical care unit.

"We will keep these restrictions under constant review as the national guidance continues to change."