NHS Hospitals Open Doors Wider for Visitors

County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust has implemented new "open visiting" hours across its hospitals. This initiative allows patients more flexibility to spend time with family and friends daily between 10:30 and 19:30. Previously, visiting times varied significantly between wards and were often restricted to set afternoon and evening slots.

Chief Nurse Gill Hunt stated that maintaining connections with loved ones is crucial for patient wellbeing and recovery. The trust acknowledges the importance of family bonds during hospitalization and has updated its policy accordingly. Children are now encouraged to visit, provided it is appropriate for the patient's condition.

The new policy applies to sites including Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. Each patient can receive a maximum of two visitors at a time. These visitors must follow current infection prevention measures, such as refraining from sitting on patient beds or using patient toilets. The trust confirmed no additional staff are required for this change, and visitors might be asked to step out briefly to facilitate patient care, privacy, or rest.