Visiting restarts in Borders hospitals from today

Visiting has not been allowed throughout the coronavirus lockdown in an effort to stop the spread of the virus, however, the restriction is being eased.

Nicky Berry, director of nursing, midwifery and acute services said: “In order to keep everyone safe we must limit and coordinate footfall through our facilities and, therefore, new visiting procedures will be in place.”

Each patient will be allowed one designated visitor, who will have to call the ward to book their visit in advance.

Visiting will be on a rotational basis to allow every patient the opportunity to have a visitor, and agreed times may be changed if neccessary by ward staff.

Visitors will have to arrive on time to avoid congestion, and they will be required to wear a face covering at all times, and use hand sanitisation facilities on entering and leaving the building.

The canteen will not be available to the public, and only the public toilets should be used, not the ones within the wards.

Food parcels, flowers and helium balloons should not be brought into the hospital.

Some wards in the Borders General Hospital in Melrose have seperate arrangements.

Visiting is still not allowed in the Covid ward, and only one visitor is allowed in the labour ward.

Parents are allowed to visit a child in the special care baby unit and the children’s ward, and they should remain with their child at all times.

And in end-of-life care, family members are being asked to speak to the nurse in charge of the area where the patient is being cared for to make appropriate arrangements.

Anyone who has symptoms of Covid-19, or who may have come into contact with someone with the virus, should not visit.