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Dec 2021
Last Updated: 22/12/2021
Harrogate and Ripon hospitals restrict visitors due to Omicron
The NHS trust running the Harrogate and Ripon hospitals has said visitors will no longer be allowed unless for exceptional circumstances. It says the nature of the Omicron variant has meant it is necessary to bring in further measures.
Harrogate District Hospital, Lancaster Park Road.
The NHS Trust running Harrogate and Ripon's hospitals has said visitors will only be allowed onto wards in exceptional circumstances due to the threat of the Omicron variant.
Officials at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust said the "highly transmissible" nature of the variant has meant it must bring in new measures.
The new rules will come into place on December 23 and will mean visitors will only be allowed onto wards in certain circumstances.
The exceptions are:
- If the patient is receiving end of life care
- Carers of a patients with a learning disability or severe cognitive impairment such as dementia
- Parents or carers of a children
- Birthing partners
The changes also apply to people coming for outpatient appointments. Patients won't be bale to bring someone with them unless it is they are a parent of a child or a carer.
Emma Nunez, executive director of nursing, midwifery & allied health professionals at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, said:
"This decision has not been taken lightly. We understand that this will be disappointing for people who have a loved one in our care, and we apologise for any upset that this will cause, but we have had to take this difficult decision to protect both our patients and our staff.
"We will be reviewing our visitor arrangements regularly and we will look to relax visiting restrictions at the earliest opportunity."
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The hospital has had to make this decision before in previous covid peaks and says, once again, it must make the safety of patients and staff a priority.
The trust also emphasised the need for everyone to get behind the vaccine and booster roll-out. It said nearly 90% of its staff have had a first and second dose.
A vaccination centre has been set up at Harrogate hospital as part of the acceleration of the booster vaccine programme. Appointments can be booked on the NHS website.
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