Visiting restrictions at two Lancashire Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust hospitals will ease today to allow patients to spend time with their families and loved ones.

Adult inpatient visiting restrictions at Royal Preston Hospital and Chorley and South Ribble Hospital will relax from today (Friday 18 February), with visiting permitted between 6pm to 7pm, seven days per week.

Visiting restrictions had been suspended in late December due to the rising Covid cases caused by the Omicron variant.

Arrangements must be made directly with the ward, with a controlled booking system reinstated to enable one visitor per patient to visit once per day up to a maximum of one hour.

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To gain access to the ward, all visitors must provide evidence of a negative lateral flow test.

It means visitors must test before attending and demonstrate the negative test before entering the ward area, with the hospitals reminding visitors that parking is limited.

Lateral flow tests can be obtained free from pharmacies or ordered online via the government website.

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Alternative timings are possible, but the above principles still apply.

Some specific wards or areas may still have visiting restrictions in place, so visitors should contact in advance.

Covid-19 measures still apply to the NHS, including social distancing and hand hygiene practices.

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All visitors, unless exempt, must also wear a face mask and any PPE that the clinical area recommends.

Visitors must not be Covid-19 positive, must not have symptoms, be awaiting the result of a PCR swab or be in a self-isolation period.

For more information, visit the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals website.

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