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Hospitals are still banning patients from having bedside visitors in ‘immoral’ Covid restrictions.
Last night, MPs, patient groups and campaigners criticised the postcode lottery that means some frail patients are still denied the support of loved ones.
Nine trusts continue to impose total bans on any visitors for some patients, The Mail on Sunday has found.
Almost half of trusts maintain policies so strict that they flaunt NHS England’s guidance that patients should be allowed at least two visitors a day.
Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust and Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust are among those continuing total bans on visiting for some of their patients.
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) has even been imposing its draconian restrictions on disabled patients who need special help for their care – only allowing visits on three days a week for a maximum of an hour each time.
Alicia Kearns MP said: 'Visitors save lives, they advocate and calm their loved ones. When will this madness end?’
Dozens of other trusts only allow one visitor to visit once a day for up to one hour – despite NHS England guidance on March 8 saying two visitors should be allowed for ‘at least one hour per day and ideally for longer’.
NHS infection prevention guidance, updated on April 14, reiterated this by stating: ‘Visits
