East Londonderry MLA Claire Sugden has welcomed an easing of visiting rules at Northern and Western Trust hospitals, saying it would bring greater comfort to local patients and their families.
The independent MLA said the rule changes were overdue, and urged all Trusts to be as sympathetic as they could to patients and their families as long as changes could be made safely.
“Since the start of the pandemic stricter rules meant families and friends were kept apart from their loved ones to a much greater extent during spells in hospitals,” Ms Sugden said. “There were valid health and safety reasons for rules limiting the time and frequency of hospital visits, but that made it no easier for families who simply wanted to give their love and support to poorly relatives.
“This has been particularly upsetting for those with serious illnesses – in many cases, family were unable to say their last goodbyes face-to-face.
“Now, as we have moved into a lower-risk stage of the pandemic, more people are able to make hospital visits more often, but rule changes have not been applied universally across Northern Ireland.
“It is very welcome that the Northern and Western Trusts have taken these steps, but those cared for in other parts of Northern Ireland will be left frustrated and upset that they remain more restricted.”
In Northern Trust hospitals, a patient can now nominate two people who can visit every day, depending on conditions at the hospital at the time and after organising the visit with the ward nurse in charge. Before this, the two nominees were only able to visit separately. From Monday (August 15) the Western Trust is allowing two visitors to make a single hour-long visit per day from a list of four nominees. The rules will be reviewed on September 5.
“I would urge all health chiefs to keep reassessing their visiting policies and do whatever they can to, safely, implement more sympathetic rules.
“Hospital patients, like most other people, must also benefit from a more general relaxation of covid rules across society. While safety guidance should still be adhered to where needed, we must also enjoy our steady transition to a more normal way of life.”
