As of 8am this morning Maidstone Hospital closed its doors to visitors. This is in order to protect their staff and patients. This is to carry on until further notice. They only exceptions to this are:-
- patients receiving end of life care - one visitor is permitted for one hour to be arranged with ward staff by telephone
- patients prior to needing ventilation - one visitor for a limited period of time to be arranged with ward staff by telephone
- paediatric wards - one parent or carer to be with the child as agreed with ward staff
- maternity departments - one birthing partner on labour ward - one supporting partner on the postnatal ward (must be the same person) - no visitors on the antenatal ward - no visit to attend scan or any antenatal appointment - no children permitted in any maternity department
- neonatal unit - one parent at any time and no siblings
- patients requiring individual carer support - carers will be permitted in agreement with ward staff
Visitors will be provided with personal protective equipment according to individual circumstances.
Maidstone Hospital has asked people not to enter hospitals under any circumstances if you are feeling unwell particularly if you are exhibiting coronavirus symptoms, you have a chronic illness or are 70 years old or over.
Non urgent planned operations are being postponed from this week and the hospital team will contact everyone affected as soon as possible.
The hospital team have asked for patience when telephoning the hospital when dealing with appointments as they are working as hard as they can.