As COVID-19 restrictions continue to be relaxed across Barbados, visting hours remain suspended at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH).
In a media release, management at the QEH says this is “due to the ongoing threat posed by the coronavirus”.
Exemptions may be granted for patients receiving palliative and end-of-life care, pregnant patients who are in active labour, very ill patients who will be identified by the Department of Nursing Services and for paediatric patients, with whom a parent or guardian will be allowed to stay around the clock.
In these instances, there will be one visitor per patient, managed through the Department of Nursing Services.
Provision will continue to be made for either a relative or caregiver to deliver toiletries and fresh laundry to patients for whom visitation has been suspended. These deliveries will be facilitated between noon and 1 p.m. and from 5 to 6 p.m. daily.
Similarly, patients seeking emergency care at the Accident and Emergency Department (AED) are advised that only minors under the age of 18 and the elderly who are considered to be at high risk of falling, may be disoriented, and those requiring assistance with regular daily activities such as walking, using the bathroom and eating, will be allowed one visitor. For all other AED patients, once found to be coherent, visiting continues to be suspended.
In the event patients have been admitted but continue to be housed in the AED or the Short Stay Unit, provision will be made for either a relative or caregiver to deliver toiletries and fresh laundry to these patients during the same time frame above.
Congregating outside of the AED is still prohibited, and all visitors to the hospital are required to wear a mask, submit to a temperature check and sign the visitors’ log book at the main entrance. These rules will be strongly enforced.
People who are experiencing cold or flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough, sneezing, runny nose and or shortness of breath, or have been in contact with someone exhibiting these symptoms, are advised to stay away from the hospital. (PR/SAT)
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