GREAT Western Hospital has introduced new visitor restrictions in a bid to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

The GWH NHS Trust has said visiting will be limited to only essential visitors to protect vulnerable patients.

A notice has been published on the trust’s website and it says: “ Maintaining the safety of our patients, visitors and staff is our top priority and we want to ensure that we are doing all we can do to reduce the risk of infection.

“We are working to help delay the spread of the virus within the community by placing some necessary restrictions on visiting, both in hospital and if our community team carries out a home visit.

“We do not want patients to avoid the Emergency Department or Urgent Care Centre if they are in a life-threatening or serious condition.

Patients should continue to use the Emergency Department and Urgent Care Centre as normal, but they will need to restrict the number of visitors that come with them to just one.

“To ensure that all patients who no longer need our hospital care can return to their own homes in a safe and timely manner, we kindly ask that family, friends and carers arrange transport to pick up the patient from the hospital when they have been told they can go home.

“They should also prepare clothes and shoes for the patient, to make the discharge process easier and quicker.

Face-to-face outpatient appointments will shift to telephone appointments.

Non-emergency operations have been suspended until further notice. This restriction does not affect operations for those with cancer.

For further information visit: www.gwh.nhs.uk