Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board have announced a new opening visiting times policy which removes the previous restricted Ysbyty Gwynedd Visiting Hours, offering increased flexibility for the families, friends and carers of patients on many wards.
The new policy, which is already in place, applies to all general wards across the Health Board, including Wrexham Maelor Hospital, Glan Clwyd Hospital and Ysbyty Gwynedd.
The policy means that scheduled visiting are no longer in place on general wards, with the aim of encouraging families and carers to feel more involved in patients’ care.
Open visiting allows visitors to see a patient at a time which suits them and is in the best interest of our patients.
Where possible, healthcare staff will work around agreed visiting hours to make the most of the increased flexibility. However, when this is not possible and patients require care, treatments or examinations, visitors may be asked to leave a room or ward to allow staff to attend to a patient. Likewise, visitors may be asked to temporarily leave an area should a nearby patient require urgent care or attention.
Restricted visiting hours will remain in place in specialist departments. This includes where specialist care is provided, such as in critical care, high dependency units, and coronary care, as well as in maternity, special care baby and paediatric units where the needs of the baby, child or young person are considered, and parents are encouraged to be partners in their child’s care.
Where restricted visiting hours remain in place, patients and their visitors will be informed of the set visiting hours.
Gill Harris, Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery for the Health Board, said: “Contact with friends, families and carers is a really important part of helping many of our patients get better, which is why we’ve introduced a new, more flexible approach to visiting hours.”
The health board have asked that visitors continue to follow infection prevention guidelines to help stop the risk of infections. All visitors should not visit if they have signs of a cough, cold or diarrhoea or vomiting, or have been in contact with an infectious disease, such as chicken pox.
