From Tuesday, the rules for people visiting patients in Harrogate and Ripon’s hospitals will be relaxed following a decline in covid infections.
On December 23, Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust tightened visitor restrictions because of the Omicron variant and the subsequent rise in infections. At one point the Harrogate district had the highest covid rate in North Yorkshire.
Visitors were only allowed for patients on end of life care, patients with a learning disability or severe cognitive impairment such as dementia. Parents or carers of children and birthing partners were also permitted.
But from Tuesday, patients can have one visitor, by appointment, between 2-4pm for 30 minutes. Only two visitors will be allowed in each bay at any one time.
Visitors are asked to book appointments by phone from Monday.
Bookings should be made directly with the ward where a patient is staying.
For Harrogate District Hospital call 01423 885959. For Ripon Community Hospital call 01423 542900 between 10am and 4pm and ask to be put through the relevant ward.
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Also from Tuesday, outpatients will be allowed to have one person accompany them to a hospital appointment. All visitors will have to wear a mask and sanitise their hands when they arrive.
Jonathan Coulter, acting chief executive at HDFT, said:
“Having reviewed our visitor guidance and the current covid transmission levels in the district we are pleased to welcome back visitors to our hospitals from Tuesday.
“Like so many other hospitals in the country, we did not take the decision to restrict visitors lightly. We understand the positive impact that seeing a familiar, friendly face, such as a family member or friend, can have on a patient’s recuperation, but due to the highly infectious nature of this devastating virus we needed to do all we could to prevent our patients and our staff from contracting the disease.
“We understand that our visitor restrictions have been challenging for some people and we would like to apologise for any distress they have felt, but introducing these restrictions may have prevented someone in our care from catching covid and becoming seriously ill or dying.”
The Harrogate district has reported 96 covid infections, according to today’s Pubic Health England figures.
The district’s weekly infection rate now stands at 336 per 100,000 people, while the North Yorkshire rate is 287 and the England average stands at 275.
Today’s NHS England statistics show no further covid deaths were recorded at Harrogate District Hospital.
The death toll at the hospital from covid since March 2020 stands at 186.
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Meanwhile, the hospital is currently treating 10 patients for covid according to the latest government figures.
Elsewhere, 127,844 people have received a first covid vaccine in the Harrogate district and 119,653 have had a second dose.
Harrogate district records highest daily covid infections since JulyThe Harrogate district has reported its highest daily number of covid infections for two months.
According to today’s Pubic Health England figures, 132 cases have been confirmed in the district.
It’s the highest number of daily infections since July 16 when 138 were recorded.
The district’s weekly infection rate now stands at 386 per 100,000 people, which is above the North Yorkshire rate of 341 and the England average of 321.
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According to the latest figures, Harrogate District Hospital is treating 11 patients for covid.
The hospital has not recorded any covid deaths in the last 24 hours, according to NHS England statistics.
Elsewhere, 127,193 people have received a first covid vaccine in the Harrogate district and 116,681 have had a second dose.
Ninety-nine covid infections reported in Harrogate districtThe Harrogate district has reported 99 covid infections, according to latest Public Health England figures.
Meanwhile, Harrogate District Hospital is currently treating nine patients for covid.
Health officials in North Yorkshire said earlier this week that a “sharp rise” in the number of patients being treated for covid has been reported at the county’s hospitals.
Yesterday, Harrogate hospital recorded its first covid death in four months.
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It means the death toll at the hospital from covid since March 2020 stands at 180.
The district’s weekly rate has increased to 314 per 100,000 people.
The North Yorkshire rate stands at 292 and the England average is 315.
Harrogate district reports another 60 daily covid infectionsThe Harrogate district has recorded another 60 covid infections in the last 24 hours, according to latest Public Health England figures.
Meanwhile, the district’s seven-day rate is now at 289 per 100,000 people.
The North Yorkshire rate stands at 269 and the England average is 296.
However, Harrogate District Hospital has not reported a covid-related death in nearly four months.
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The last time a death was recorded was on April 11.
It means the number of covid deaths at the hospital since March 2020 remains at 179.
Elsewhere, 123,394 people have received a first covid vaccine in the Harrogate district and 107,875 have had a second dose.