Harrogate District Hospital has today resumed visits for inpatients as part of the latest easing of lockdown restrictions.

Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust announced today all inpatients were allowed one visitor for 30 minutes each day.

Visits are allowed between 2-4pm for up to 30 minutes. Appointments must be booked in advance with wards.

Also from today, partners are allowed to attend all pregnancy scans.

But no visitors are allowed in the emergency department unless they are accompanying a child.

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Patients who are classed as end of life, or have dementia or a learning disability, or have been in hospital for a long time will continue to have open and flexible visiting as before.

During the booking process visitors will be asked questions about covid symptoms, travel and requests to isolate. Visitors will also have to wear PPE whilst in the hospital.

To read the guidance in full, click here.

Harrogate District Hospital has announced visitors will be allowed on maternity wards with immediate effect.

Previously, the coronavirus outbreak meant only birthing partners could be with women during the birth, with no other visitors allowed. However from this afternoon, delivery suites are allowing one birthing partner can stay during labour and delivery up until women are discharged or transferred from delivery suite.

Once the patient is transferred to the Pannal maternity ward, they will be allocated a time in the day for the birth partner to visit. This will be limited to one hour between either 11am-12pm or 3pm-4pm.

At present children are still not allowed on the wards.

Safety measures will remain in place, for example the 2 metre social distancing is expected during the visit and around the hospital. Anyone visiting the hospital can also expect to sanitise their hands on arrival and wear a mask, provided by the hospital.

The hospital is advising visitors to not touch their mask once applied or remove in the corridors, communal areas and when visiting on the ward.

The new visiting restrictions are likely to be greatly appreciated by patients and expectant parents in the district.

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There have been no changes to ultrasound appointments and women are still required to attend these alone – but this is under constant review by professionals.