VISITORS are set to be barred from Bromsgrove's main hospital this weekend as concerns rise over the increase in coronavirus cases in the town.

The Advertiser reported earlier this week that visits to care homes were being banned after the number of positive Covid-19 tests in Bromsgrove tripled inside a week.

Now, health chiefs have acted to temporarily eradicate visiting hours at Bromsgrove's Princess of Wales Hospital as well.

A statement from Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust said the ruling takes effect immediately from today (Friday) and that the situation would be reviewed again next week.

A social media post from the Trust explained: "We have made the decision to temporarily suspend visiting to our wards and inpatient units in Bromsgrove.

"This decision has been made to protect our patients, their families and our staff in light of an increase in COVID-19 cases in the local area."

Visiting is also suspended at the mental health/recovery wards at New Haven, Keith Winter House, Church View and Tudor Lodge.

The Trust added that there will be some exceptions, for example visiting for patients who are receiving end of life care.

Any relatives with a visiting appointment booked for this weekend will be offered a virtual visit supported by ward staff.

Initially, only Bromsgrove's hospital and wards were affected but the Trust has since announced that visiting at all of Worcestershire’s community hospitals and mental health wards is suspended this weekend.

That includes community hospitals in Malvern, Tenbury, Pershore, Evesham, as well as at Wyre Forest Ward.

Worcester City Inpatient Unit will also remain closed to visitors. The suspension also covers all Worcestershire’s mental health/recovery wards over this weekend.

As with the Princess of Wales, the situation will be reviewed at all venues again early next week.

Visiting at Worcestershire’s community hospitals and mental health wards opened on an appointment only basis a few weeks ago.

Visiting at Acute Hospitals in Redditch, Worcester and Kidderminster have remained closed since the COVID-19 outbreak.

Further information on visiting is available online at www.hacw.nhs.uk/visiting.