Ipswich and Colchester Hospitals run by East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust relax visiting restrictions

Almost all visiting restrictions have been relaxed in hospitals run by East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT).

It means people with loved ones in hospital no longer need to book ward visiting slots and can visit patients for longer time periods.

The changes were made and shared with patients and their loved ones ahead of Her Majesty The Queen’s funeral yesterday.

It also comes as the trust is seeing lower Covid-19 infection rates.

ESNEFT runs Colchester and Ipswich Hospitals and community services in east Suffolk and north Essex.

Chief executive Nick Hulme said: “I am very happy to say we are in a position where we can relax the visiting restrictions we have had in place for some time and that it is safe for us to do so.

“We appreciate how vitally important visiting is for our patients’ recovery and wellbeing, as well as those who are understandably worried and care about them at home.

“We were mindful too of the emotional impact the death of Her Majesty The Queen and her funeral had on the people in our care. That is why we wanted to have a more relaxed visiting policy in place yesterday for all our patients.

“As always, we will keep our visiting policy under regular review. If needed, we will reinstate restrictions again, but for now we are delighted to have more open visiting in place to support our patients and their families.”

More information about visiting can also be found on the ESNEFT website.