Johnson Community Hospital asks families to confirm visits in advance

Spalding's Johnson Community Hospital has finalised its patient visiting arrangement for Christmas and the New Year.

All visitors are being asked to make an appointment in advance to help reduce the risk of spreading coronavirus to vulnerable patients.

In addition, a limit of one visitor per patient will be in place to support social distancing on wards.

Because of this, families are being encouraged to use the " Contact Your Loved Ones" service, set up by Lincolnshire Community Health Services (LCHS) NHS Trust, in order for people to share messages, emails and photographs virtually and minimise the risk of spreading COVID-19.

An LCHS spokesman said: "The ‘Contact Your Loved Ones’ service is in addition to existing methods of keeping in touch, including telephone calls and postal letters.

"To use the service, email lhnt.ContactYourLovedOne-LCHS@nhs.net and include the patient’s full name (with middle initial if applicable), postcode, year of birth and the name of the ward where they are staying, along with the message or letter you would like them to receive."

Otherwise, to make a face-to-face appointment, families and friends should contact Johnson Community Hospital on 01775 652000 and ask for the Welland Ward clerk.

All visitors should wash their hands on arrival at the hospital entrance using the hand sanitiser provided, follow the temporary floor markings to safely guide them around the site and stay behind screens to protect patients and visitors.

You should also keep at least two metres between them and patients, visitors and nursing staff and remove face coverings when leaving the hospital, disposing of it in one of the bins provided.

However, due to the challenging nature of the coronavirus and levels of infection in the community, visiting arrangements may be subject to unexpected, last-minute changes.

For full details about patient visiting, go to www.lincolnshirecommunityhealthservices.nhs.uk/