NHS bosses spark fury for reviving Covid curbs and banning visitors

NHS bosses have sparked fury for reviving draconian Covid curbs by banning patients from having visitors.

Senior Tory MP Alicia Kearns branded Northampton and Kettering Hospitals “wrong and cruel” for stopping friends and family seeing their sick loved ones.

2

2

From yesterday the Trust has suspended visits to all adult inpatient wards except for “compassionate” cases. All visitors must also now wear a mask.

The hospitals say the measures aim to reduce infections following a spike in Covid and seasonal flu cases.

They warn 120 beds are now occupied by coronavirus patients, up from as few as 16 in September. Meanwhile 70 beds are taken up by flu cases.

But Ms Kearns fumed: “This is very wrong and cruel. Patients should not be locked away from their loved ones who advocate for their care, understand their needs and recognise signs that more support might be needed.

“We must learn from mistakes, not repeat them.”

During the pandemic hospitals stopped the overwhelming majority of visits in a controversial approach to limiting transmission.

It meant some were even prevented from seeing dying relatives in their final hours, except over Zoom.

Northampton General Hospitals insist maternity, paediatrics and patients who need compassionate visiting will not be affected and will continue with their current policies.”

Northampton and Kettering General Hospital’s Chief Operating Officers, Palmer Winstanley and Fay Gordon, said: “We would once again like to ask for their support with these restrictions.

“It is not a decision we take lightly, and we hope people understand why we are reintroducing these measures for the safety of our patients.”