Updated information on visiting and use of surgical face masks for hospitals in Lancashire and South Cumbria
Date posted: 17th May 2021Due to the ongoing risks associated with coronavirus (COVID-19), visiting at hospitals across Lancashire and South Cumbria will remain restricted and limited to exceptional circumstances.
In exceptional circumstances, one visitor (an immediate family member or carer) is permitted to visit if:
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patient receiving end-of-life care
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partners of women requiring support through antenatal and scan attendances, induction of labour, during labour, as well as in the postnatal period
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a familiar carer/parent or guardian/supporter/personal assistant
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both parents/guardians where the family bubble can be maintained
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patients may be accompanied where appropriate and necessary to assist their communication and/or to meet their health, emotional, religious or spiritual care needs.
The latest information for birthing partners accompanying someone in labour is available on the visiting pages of each of the trust websites. For this and more detailed local information about visiting, go to:
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals - Visiting and Outpatients
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals - Use of face masks
East Lancashire Hospitals
East Lancashire Hospitals – Information on Visiting and Use of Face Coverings
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals - Information on Visiting
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals - Use of Face Masks
Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
Lancashire and South Cumbria - Changes to patient visitors
Lancashire and South Cumbria - Use of Face Masks
University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust
University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay - Information on Visiting and Face Masks
Visitors for the above must be agreed with the nurse in charge of the ward before attending the hospital.
Visitors and patients coming to hospital for any urgent, planned and outpatient care will need to wear surgical face masks on entry to the hospital to reduce the risk of spreading coronavirus to other patients and staff. You will be provided with a surgical face mask upon arrival, which should remain in place covering your mouth and nose for the duration of your attendance in the hospital.
If you are wearing a cloth-based or homemade face covering, you will be required to change to a surgical mask on entry to the hospital. This is in line with national NHS guidance as a surgical mask provides greater protection than cloth-based or homemade face coverings.
People who do not bring a face covering with them when attending hospital will be provided with one at the entrance.
Kevin McGee, Chief Executive of Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, speaking on behalf of hospitals in Lancashire and South Cumbria, said:
“We temporarily suspended visiting back in March and since then local people have been outstanding in their support for our trusts by following the restrictions and not visiting their loved ones in hospital. We know it will be incredibly hard for people not to be able to visit their family or friends so we wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone for their continued cooperation.
We need to keep the number of people inside our hospitals to an absolute minimum to help reduce the spread of coronavirus so that means we are not in a position to be able to reinstate visiting.
We appreciate that this will be difficult to hear for some but we hope they will understand that we have to do what’s right to protect all those that are receiving care or working in our hospitals.
We understand that visiting is very important to our patients and their loved ones and as soon as we are able to lift the suspension, we will. In the meantime, we would ask for the public’s help in continuing to respect these rules to help us all stay safe.”
As well as the above restrictions, you should not visit any health and care settings if you or someone you live is unwell, especially if you have any of the following symptoms - high temperature; a new, continuous cough; or a loss of or change to your sense of smell or taste.
This information applies to the following organisations who are working in partnership across Lancashire and South Cumbria:
- Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust
- Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
- University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust