Two NHS hospitals have banned most visitors and ordered patients to wear masks on their wards after being ravaged by a wave of winter bugs and Covid.
The move was announced jointly by NHS Northampton General Hospital and Kettering General Hospital Trusts.
But a Tory MP today called the Trust’s decision to “lock up” patients with their loved ones “wrong and cruel”.
But hospital bosses say the move is necessary to protect vulnerable patients on the wards from a ‘significant increase’ in Covid, flu, RSV and norovirus infections.
The NHS Northampton General Hospital Trust and NHS Kettering General Hospital Trust have banned most visitors and imposed a mask in scenes commemorating the Covid closure
The move was condemned by Tory MP Alicia Kearns, who said it was wrong and cruel to keep patients away from their loved ones
They added they must also prevent staff from catching sick visitors, which could lead to much-needed medics being on sick leave.
But Alicia Kearns, the Conservative MP for Rutland and Melton, condemned the decision.
She tweeted: “This is very wrong and cruel.
“Patients should not be cut off from loved ones who are committed to their care, understand their needs and recognize signs that more support may be needed.”
Referring to how similar visitor bans were introduced during the Covid lockdown, she added: “We need to learn from mistakes, not repeat them.”
Announcing the new rules, which came into force today, hospital bosses said all visits to adult patients would be banned except for compassionate reasons.
Pregnant women and children in foster care will automatically request a compassionate visit, but other patients will be treated on a case-by-case basis.
The Trust said “virtual visits”, such as those using an iPad or tablet camera, would be increased so patients could keep in touch with loved ones on a regular basis.
All visitors admitted to the hospitals and all patients are asked to wear masks to combat the spread of Covid and winter viruses such as influenza.
Hospital bosses said 120 beds were now occupied by Covid patients, ten times the number in September.
They also said a further 70 beds were occupied by flu patients with the seasonal winter virus which has been sweeping the NHS across the country in recent weeks.
In a joint statement, Palmer Winstanley and Fay Gordon, chief operating officer of the Northampton and Kettering General Hospital, told Winter Press that the decision to apply the new rules was not taken lightly.
They said: “Britain is currently experiencing a significant increase in winter illnesses such as COVID, influenza, RSV and norovirus.
“The current variants are very contagious and we are seeing the numbers rise in both hospitals, with some patients feeling very unwell.
“As a result, we are suspending visits to wards for adult patients and asking all patients and visitors to wear masks when entering the hospital.
“This is not a decision we take lightly and we hope people understand why we are reinstating these measures to keep our patients safe.”
In other news…
Can the Covid outbreak in China really win the fight against the virus in the first place? Experts warn that new worrisome variants may emerge, but immunity should keep serious diseases at bay
Flu vaccination among NHS workers falls to lowest level in A DECADE, despite warnings
ER patients waited an average of 15 hours in parts of England as hospitals blame flu, Covid and bed shortages on ‘unprecedented’ pressure
Source link
Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
