Hospital visiting no longer restricted

The Royal Oldham Hospital

THE Royal Oldham Hospital is to relax visiting times.

Patients, relatives and staff gave the thumbs up to a more flexible approach as visitors were traditionally only allowed on the wards at set times in the afternoon and evening. Now there could be times when, for clinical reasons, visitors may be asked to return later, but otherwise visiting will be controlled only by guidelines on numbers around a patient’s bed to prevent the spread of infection and protected mealtimes.

Quality matron for medicine Charlotte Dent said: “Open visiting allows families easier access to medical staff and to participate in care, if patients and families wish to. This is particularly pertinent in caring for patients with dementia.”

Carol Chadwick from High Crompton, who received care on ward F2 at the Royal Oldham, said: “Visiting used to be between 2-4pm and then 7pm-8pm. When it was restricted my visitors felt that they had to stay the whole time, whereas my husband now feels he can just pop in on his way to work.

“Finding a parking space is easier too, as not all visitors are arriving at the same time.”