NHS Lanarkshire is making further changes to visiting arrangements across hospitals to ensure patient safety as cases of Omicron continue to rise in the community, including an increase in cases in the over 60s.

We have made the decision to return to one visitor at a time with immediate effect. Patients will still be allowed two visits per day and the second visitor can be different from the first.

Visiting will still be by appointment only and visitors need to contact the ward to arrange a time to visit. They will also need to have a negative lateral flow test and staff will be asking people to confirm they have undertaken a test before access to wards.

NHS Lanarkshire nurse director for acute services Susan Friel said: “We understand that patients in hospital are having a challenging time and want to have their family and friends around them for support.

“It is our priority to protect our patients and staff as much as is possible and this is why we have made the difficult decision to return to one visitor per visit.

“This decision has been necessary to limit the number of people coming into our hospitals and also reduce the risk of the more transmissible Omicron variant being passed to patients and staff in our hospitals.

“We urge all visitors to take a lateral flow test before their visit and ask those awaiting results of a PCR test or showing signs of symptoms not to attend as they would be putting their loved ones at risk.

“Unfortunately, we have had some issues regarding visitors not wearing face coverings in hospitals and we have staff in place to ensure compliance.

“Anyone with questions about visiting arrangements should speak to the nurse in charge of the ward.

“While visitors can now have close contact with their loved one, they are reminded to adhere to physical distancing in communal areas of the hospital, wear face coverings at all times and frequently wash their hands when entering and leaving clinical areas.”

The following measures are in place to manage visiting safely and minimise risk:

• A lateral flow test must be undertaken and a negative result verbally confirmed to ward staff.
• No visits should take place if the visitor is awaiting a PCR test, has symptoms of Covid-19, or is quarantining because they have had contact with a person with Covid-19.
• Physical distancing must be observed in all communal areas of the hospital
• Face coverings must be worn, and existing hand hygiene measures will continue.
• Movement around other areas must be limited as much as possible and communal gatherings in public areas of the hospital must be avoided.

We will continue to monitor visiting on a regular basis to ensure the safety of both our patients and staff.

Information on how to obtain a Lateral Flow Test and how to take the test is available by visiting NHS Inform at https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/coronavirus-covid-19/test-and-protect/coronavirus-covid-19-get-a-test-if-you-do-not-have-symptoms