Health boards given more flexibility over hospital visits

Health boards have been given more flexibility to decide hospital visiting rules in Wales.

New guidance published by Welsh Government gives health boards, trusts and hospices the ability to set their own rules based on local coronavirus infection rates.

The new guidance was published on Monday, November 30.

Before the new guidance was released, hospital visits, as well as accompanying someone to a medical appointment, had been banned in all but a few circumstances, due to the pandemic.

New rules have also been introduced to allow pregnant women to attend maternity appointments with their partners, in areas with low coronavirus rates.

Maternity visits will now be based on a risk assessment by health boards, with issues such as room sizes and ability to social distance also playing a part in determining new rules.

Pregnant women will be allowed one person with them during labour, birth and immediately after birth, except for in a limited number of circumstances.

Caerphilly County Borough is part of the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board.

Wales’ Health Minister, Vaughan Gething MS, said visiting restrictions have had “a huge impact on patients, their families and loved ones”.

He said: “We have announced further changes to the guidelines today to provide health boards, trusts and hospices with flexibility to depart from the guidelines in response to local levels of Covid-19 transmission.

“It is important to remember that the virus has not gone away and the health, safety and wellbeing of patients, communities and NHS staff remains an absolute priority for both the Welsh Government and health care providers.”

Mr Gething added: “Tough choices will still need to be made but we hope the revised guidelines will allow more flexibility for health care providers. ”