Health / Restrictions on hospital visits to ease slightly
RESTRICTIONS on visiting people at the Gilbert Bain Hospital will ease slightly from next week.
From Monday (13 July) one visitor per patient will be allowed for patients who are admitted to hospital.
Patients must inform the nurse/midwife in charge who their designated visitor is so that NHS Shetland can take their name and contact details.
Director of nursing and acute services Kathleen Carolan said: “There will not be set visiting times, so all visitors must phone ahead to the hospital and inform the nurse in charge when they intend to visit so we can agree the best time for you.
“This is so that we can ensure that wards do not become overcrowded and we can maintain physical distancing where possible and provide patients and visitors with a degree of privacy.”
The Gilbert Bain Hospital restaurant will remain closed to visitors, but visitors are welcome to have drinks from the trolley service on the wards.
Visitors who are seeing relatives who are very sick and are spending a lot of time on the ward, will also be able to access meals on the ward – which has been the case throughout the period of restricted access to the hospital.
Carolan added: “We are looking forward to welcoming back visitors to the hospital and recognise how important this is for patients.
“I would ask if you could help us in keeping patients and staff safe by following physical distancing rules, putting on a face mask when you enter the building and using the hand sanitiser provided.
“We are encouraging everyone to also continue to use mobile phones and tablets as a means of keeping in touch with family in between visits.”
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