NHS Highland issues advice on hospital visits as region moves into Tier 4
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NEW guidance on visiting hospitals and care homes has been issued by NHS Highland as the area moves into Level 4 restrictions because of the coronavirus.
The north, along with mainland Scotland, goes into the new tier as from Boxing Day (December 26) and as a result the health authority has updated its rules with only essential visits being allowed.
An essential visit is defined as one where it is imperative a relative or friend is allowed to see their loved one in a number of exceptional circumstances.
They include but are not limited to:
*A birth partner supporting a woman during hospital visits
*For a person receiving end-of-life care
*Support someone with a mental health issue such as dementia, a learning disability or autism where not being present would cause the patient to be distressed
*To accompany a child in hospital
*Any other situation where clinical staff assess it is essential to involve family or carers for ethical or patient safety reasons.
Essential visits also include circumstances where it is clear the person’s health and wellbeing is changing for the worse, where visiting may help with communication difficulties, to ease significant personal stress or other pressing circumstances, including approaching end of life.
Visits to Care Homes in Level 4 restriction areas will also change and applies across the Scottish mainland, including those operated by independent sector care providers.
The changes mean that indoor visiting will be limited to essential visits only. Outdoor visits, by garden or window can still take place but only agreed in advance with the care home and should be limited to one visitor only. Visits by children and young people are suspended at this time. Any outdoor visiting will also be subject to any restrictions in place with each individual care home.
The health board stresses that if a person is unwell and/or exhibiting symptoms of Covid-19 - a new, persistent cough and fever or high temperature they should not visit any health or social care settings. The advice is to self-isolate at home and book a test.
Mary Burnside, deputy director of midwifery with NHS Highland, said: "We support a person-centred, flexible approach to visiting so that people have access to families and loved ones while they are in hospital. These measures are being taken with great reluctance to protect our patients, visitors and staff in line with public health and scientific advice regarding the Covid-19 outbreak.
"We will keep you all updated as and when the guidance changes and would like to thank you all for your cooperation during these challenging times."
