Hospitals continue to protect patients and staff

Patients and visitors at Scunthorpe, Grimsby and Goole hospitals must continue to wear a face covering, practice social distancing, attend appointments and A&E alone, and comply with visiting restrictions.

These measures remain in place within the NHS across the country so the most vulnerable people can continue to safely attend hospital, their GP surgery, pharmacy or any other healthcare settings for advice, care and treatment. This will also help to protect healthcare staff.

Ellie Monkhouse, chief nurse and director of infection prevention and control at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust, explained: “Our priority remains the safety of our patients and staff. Despite lockdown restrictions being lifted, everyone visiting our hospitals must continue with these safety measures until further notice.

“Unfortunately, we are seeing an increase in the number of positive patients needing our care and our staff continue to work hard under immense pressure. With restrictions easing on Monday, it is important for the public to continue to play their part when visiting healthcare settings.”

There are exemptions to these safety measures, including patients who are exempt from wearing a mask or with vulnerabilities who need assistance at appointments or in A&E.

Ellie added: “It is vital we do all we can to reduce the risk of infection for those working in our services and patients needing our care. Therefore, our staff will also continue with the strict infection prevention and control measures currently in place.

“Our visiting restrictions are reviewed regularly, but at this time we must continue with an appointment system for named visitors only. As soon as it is safe for us to ease these restrictions, we will welcome visitors on a more flexible basis. All maternity and antenatal arrangements will remain the same and visiting in exceptional circumstances will continue as normal at the discretion of the nurse in charge.”

For more information on the safety measures in place at the hospital, visiting restrictions and maternity arrangements, please visit the trust’s website at www.nlg.nhs.uk.