Person Centred Visiting in NHS Highland inpatient hospital settings for Strathspey and Badenoch patients with no restrictions on the number of visitors per day – however a maximum of two visitors per patient at any one time is advised to avoid overcrowding in wards
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From Monday all inpatient hospital settings in NHS Highland will return to person centred visiting.
Person centred visiting means there are no restrictions on the number of visitors per day.
However, NHS Highland still advises a maximum of two visitors per patient at any one time to avoid overcrowding in wards.
Organisers would welcome support from visitors in working with them on this at this time as the NHS remains challenged at the moment and Covid-19 has not gone away.
For the majority of hospital wards there is no need to make an appointment to visit but in order to avoid overcrowding and ensure visiting is accessible for all, some clinical areas are still operating a scheduling system for visitors.
If you are unsure how the ward your loved one is in is operating, please speak to the ward staff who will be able to advise how visiting will work best for patients and their families.
Kate Patience-Quate, deputy nurse director with NHS Highland, said: “We know how important involvement and contact with family is when someone is in hospital. Being able to visit or accompany a loved one to hospital can bring comfort and help to reduce stress and distress for patients and their loved ones which is an essential part of the care experience.
“We know just how difficult it has been for everyone involved as we’ve gone through this long period of visiting restrictions. I am pleased that we are now able to return to person centred visiting across our hospital sites.”
Family members and friends are asked to liaise with each other to plan visiting to avoid large numbers of visitors at any one time, as this may result in people having to reschedule their visit.
Visitors are reminded not to attend hospitals if they are unwell, continue to wear a mask available at the hospital entrances, wash their hands and take an LFD test before they visit. LFD Kits can be ordered either online at the UK Government website or by phoning 119.
NHS Highland is also asking that everyone be mindful of those around them and be distance aware. The Distance Aware scheme is designed to help those worried about mixing with others as we adapt to living with Covid-19.
• For further information on the changes you can read the national guidance at the Scottish Government website.
