Question reference: S5W-31839
- Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 16 September 2020
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Current status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 28 September 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the need to ensure that families are able to visit loved ones who are recovering from treatment in hospital during the current pandemic.
Answer
In normal circumstances, the Scottish Government supports a person-centred, flexible approach to visiting in NHS Scotland so that people have access to families and loved ones while they are in hospital.
In the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, measures to restrict visiting were taken with great reluctance to protect patients, visitors and staff in line with public health and scientific advice.
However, mindful of the evidence that contact with, and support from, loved ones plays an important role in healing, recovery and aspects of patient safety, since July people have been able to have visits from a designated visitor in addition to the essential visits that had previously been allowed. We have produced guidance on this to support practitioners and a leaflet for members of the public, both of which are available on the Scottish Government website.
Recent increases in cases have meant that in some local authority areas it has been necessary to return to essential visits only, some examples of which include:
- A parent accompanying a child or a birth partner supporting a woman during hospital visits.
- When someone has reached the end of their life.
- When people have a mental health issue such as dementia, autism or a learning disability, and not seeing a loved one would cause distress.
Measures to restrict visiting are being continually monitored and will be further relaxed when it is safe to do so.