Visiting restrictions have been eased at hospitals in Herefordshire with impatiens now allowed one visitor a day - which can be different each day.

This applies to the general wards at Hereford County Hospital and the three community hospitals at Ross-on-Wye, Leominster and Bromyard.

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"Wye Valley NHS Trust has eased visiting arrangements further at its hospitals which means that inpatients can now have one daily visit from a family member/friend over the age of 16 years from the first day of their hospital stay, and it can be a different visitor each day and they no longer need to nominate a single visitor," said a statement by the Wye Valley NHS Trust.

The Trust has also updated visiting times to enable social distancing to be maintained and the new arrangements still require each visit to be arranged in advance with the nurse in charge.

Lucy Flanagan, director of nursing at the Trust, said: “We’re very pleased to be able to expand our visiting arrangements to support patients to their loves ones during their hospital stay.

“All we ask is that any visit is booked with the nurse in charge first and visitors will be required to wear a surgical mask and maintain good hand hygiene. Patients will also be required to wear a surgical mask during the visit if clinically appropriate.

“Unfortunately, children under the age of 16 are not allowed to visit, unless they are attending in a caring capacity. However, a parent with babes-in-arms (up to one yea of age), who is visiting one of the areas below, in line with the visiting restrictions in place, will be supported to do so.

“Importantly, anyone with a Covid positive test or showing symptoms of coronavirus or if they feel unwell with another illness must not visit our hospitals or wards, even if these symptoms are mild or intermittent, due to the risk they pose to others.

“We know how important these visits are to patients and their family and we would like to thank everyone for their understanding while we have these measures in place for the safety of our patients."