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04
Mar 2022
Visiting restrictions to be eased at Harrogate and Ripon hospitals
From Tuesday, the rules for people visiting patients in Harrogate and Ripon's hospitals will be relaxed following a decline in covid infections.
On December 23, Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust tightened visitor restrictions because of the Omicron variant and the subsequent rise in infections. At one point the Harrogate district had the highest covid rate in North Yorkshire.
Visitors were only allowed for patients on end of life care, patients with a learning disability or severe cognitive impairment such as dementia. Parents or carers of children and birthing partners were also permitted.
But from Tuesday, patients can have one visitor, by appointment, between 2-4pm for 30 minutes. Only two visitors will be allowed in each bay at any one time.
Visitors are asked to book appointments by phone from Monday.
Bookings should be made directly with the ward where a patient is staying.
For Harrogate District Hospital call 01423 885959. For Ripon Community Hospital call 01423 542900 between 10am and 4pm and ask to be put through the relevant ward.
Read More:
- Harrogate covid vaccination centre set to close in March
- Harrogate district covid rate continues rapid fall
Also from Tuesday, outpatients will be allowed to have one person accompany them to a hospital appointment. All visitors will have to wear a mask and sanitise their hands when they arrive.
Jonathan Coulter, acting chief executive at HDFT, said:
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