Visiting restrictions at north Cumbria’s hospitals have been updated.
North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Trust, which runs the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle and Whitehaven’s West Cumberland Hospital, said one nominated close family member or friend can visit for a limited time which must be pre booked.
Visitors can be different people each day but children under 16 are not allowed to visit.
Jill Foster, chief nurse, said: “We know that the suspension of visiting has been extremely difficult for patients and families and we hope that the public understand why that decision was made during the pandemic.
“We now feel that we are able to bring back visiting albeit in a restricted and controlled way for our adult inpatients.
“Visiting will need to be booked directly with the ward so that we can maintain our cleaning schedules and maintain social distancing.
“Visitors will also be expected to follow strict infection prevention measures when in the hospital – wear a face mask, unless exempt, and wash hands and keep your distance from others.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank the ward staff for their help in making sure we are able to bring back some limited visiting. We know that visitors can help a person’s recovery and ward staff themselves have made this possible.”
The restricted visiting that has been in place throughout the pandemic for maternity and children’s wards has not changed.
Jill added: “I would urge the public to be kind to our staff, we cannot safely open to visitors in the way we could before the pandemic. Visitors need to be one person for one hour and must be pre booked. These measures are in place to protect everyone.
“COVID has not gone away and we must also be cautious of flu and norovirus, the winter vomiting bug. If a ward on any of our hospital sites has an outbreak of any of these things, visiting to that ward will be suspended immediately.”
The wards are extremely busy and we continue to ask the public to bear with us when booking appointments.
Ward numbers are all listed on the website: https://www.ncic.nhs.uk/locations
If you do not know which ward your loved one is on, call the switchboard on 01228 523444 and they will be able to help.
