Gareth has welcomed today's announcement that people will again be able to visit others in hospital across Lincolnshire.
From Thursday 3 February, an updated risk-based approach to allowing visitors onto ward areas will be taken in all United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust hospitals (ULHT) - including Lincoln County Hospital, Pilgrim Hospital Boston and Grantham and District Hospital.
All hospital inpatient areas are currently given a classification of low, medium and high risk, reflecting patient conditions and infection prevention and control measures.
For each level, different visiting arrangements will be in place. This will be determined at individual patient level, depending upon their risk rating and the risk level of the areas they are residing in.
To ensure the safety of patients, visitors and staff, everyone coming in to visit a loved one will also have to take a lateral flow test at home before travelling to the hospital, and provide proof of a negative result. The result should be registered through the national Report a COVID-19 Test Result website.
Visitors can then opt to have a copy of the result sent as a message to their mobile phone or to an email address. This, or a copy of the result recorded on the visitor’s NHS COVID pass on the NHS app, must then be shown on arrival at the hospital’s main entrance 10-15 minutes before their booked time and prior to entering the hospital. It is anticipated there may be queues while results are checked and visitors are asked to bear with hospital staff and to have their test result ready to be verified to minimise delays. Do not bring your lateral flow test as proof.
All visitors will be asked to wear a hospital-provided face mask throughout their visit.
