VISITING restrictions are being reintroduced at St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust as Covid rates continue to rise in the community.

The Trust - which runs Whiston, St Helens and Newton hospitals - has announced they are reintroducing full restrictions on all wards in response to the rise in infections.

The Trust had been piloting a new system for a small number of visitors.

Admissions of Covid-19 patients are still low but the number has risen to double figures and the situation is being monitored closely by senior doctors.

In St Helens 289 cases were recorded in the latest seven-day period at a rate of 160 per 100,000.

That is more than double a week earlier, when there were 122 cases at a rate of 67.6 per 100,000.

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Knowsley is among the five areas of the country where new infections are growing most rapidly.

There were 307 cases in the borough over seven days - up from 135 a week earlier.

It is the transmission in the community, which has driven the hospital's decision to reintroduce restrictions.

Sue Redfern, director of nursing, midwifery and governance, said: “Like other hospitals in the Cheshire and Merseyside region we have taken the difficult decision to reintroduce visiting restrictions across all our hospitals.

“As the rate of Covid-19 infection rises in our communities we are admitting increasing numbers of patients who require care for the virus and we feel it is the right course of action at this time.

“We appreciate the disappointment and frustration this may cause, however the health, safety and wellbeing of our patients, communities and staff remain our absolute priority.”

Visiting will still be able to take place in exceptional circumstances such as for patients who are receiving end of life care and those with additional needs.

It will also remain in place for pregnant women with a support partner able to attend appointments, during labour, and limited post-natal visiting.

Visiting will only be permitted in the following circumstances:

  • A maximum of two visitors for patients at the end of their life
  • One partner accompanying a woman in labour, antenatal appointments and limited post-natal visiting. COVID tests must be undertaken on each attendance
  • One parent or appropriate adult visiting a child. This also includes the Special Care Baby Unit
  • One carer that is supporting someone with a mental health issue such as dementia, a learning disability or autism or other similar complex conditions, where not being present would cause the patient to be distressed