FRIDAY, 30 OCTOBER, 2020

For immediate release.

NHS Tayside hospital visiting update

Following the announcement that Dundee has been placed in Level 3 of the Scottish Government’s coronavirus restrictions system, further changes have been made to hospital visiting in Tayside.

The difficult decision has been made to limit the spread of coronavirus and to protect vulnerable patients. The new visiting rules will come into effect from Monday, 2 November.

Visiting has now been suspended in the following areas:

• All wards in Royal Victoria Hospital

• All wards in Kingsway Care Centre

• Carseview Centre

Maternity visiting:

• Pregnant women may identify one designated visitor to accompany them to their scans and antenatal appointments.

• Pregnant women may identify one designated visitor / birth partner to accompany them in labour

• Pregnant women may identify one designated visitor to visit on the postnatal ward

Visiting has been suspended in the following areas since Monday, 26 October:

• Wards for adult patients in Ninewells Hospital

• All wards at Perth Royal Infirmary

• Surgical unit wards in Stracathro Hospital

Visiting in these areas can continue in specific circumstances, for example for patients receiving end-of-life care. Anyone with a question about visiting should contact the senior charge nurse in the ward to discuss their individual situation.

Patients should continue to attend hospital for outpatient clinic appointments and for planned procedures. However if you have an appointment at one of our clinics or departments, please attend alone. The exception to this is for children and vulnerable adults, who can be accompanied by one person.

The public can continue to visit:

• Tayside Children’s Hospital. One parent can visit with another nominated person allowed to visit separately

• Community hospitals

NHS Tayside’s Director of Nursing and Midwifery, Claire Pearce, said, “We understand that suspending visiting will impact on families and patients and we know that not being able to visit family members whilst they are in hospital is distressing for many people. However it is vital that we keep our patients, staff and the public safe. We hope everyone understands that we have made this difficult decision for these reasons.

“We will continue to offer virtual visiting for patients using telephones, tablets and laptops to allow people to keep in touch with their loved ones.”

If anyone has any questions about visiting arrangements they should speak to the nurse in charge of the ward.

Contact:

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 424138