OPEN visits are being reintroduced across all Worcestershire hospitals from next week.

Hospitals such as Worcestershire Royal and the Alexandra in Redditch will be allowing open visits from Monday, June 13.

The move follows what has been a gradual relaxation of the strict visiting rules that were put in place during the Covid pandemic.

Up to two visitors will be able to visit patients between the hours of 10am and 10pm, seven days a week. 

Paula Gardner, chief nursing officer at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said: “We recognise the contribution that visiting makes to the wellbeing and person-centred care of our patients, and the support and love families and friends bring and we are delighted to bringing back open visiting.

"Our new open visiting policy, which follows national guidance around visiting to healthcare settings, will allow our patients to be fully reconnected with their loved ones.

“I would again like to extend our thanks and gratitude to our patients, their families and loved ones for their understanding and adherence to the visiting rules that we have had to impose throughout the Covid pandemic.

"Your diligence and awareness of the need to keep loved ones safe in hospital has been key in our efforts to fight the virus.”

The open visiting applies to adult inpatient ward areas.

Visitors to maternity, neonatal and children’s wards, intensive care and high dependency units are asked to check visiting times with these areas before they visit.  

The news follows the update that masks will no longer be required when visiting hospitals across the county.

READ MORE: Worcestershire Royal Hospital scrap covid face masks rules

Patients visiting GP surgeries or hospital outpatient appointments and people attending A&E no longer need to wear masks.

But those with respiratory symptoms – such as a cough – should wear a face mask or face covering.

Patients admitted to hospital with Covid-19 or suspected to have Covid should be provided with a face mask when they are admitted to a ward or in a communal area “if this can be tolerated and it is deemed safe for the patient”, the letter adds.