‘STRICT’ visiting restrictions at hospitals across west Wales have been eased slightly, health chiefs have announced.

Family and friends can now attend hospitals in Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire to visit patients on a limited basis with prior agreement with hospital staff in line with Welsh Government guidance.

While the prevalence of Covid-19 has reduced within our hospitals and in the community, the virus has not gone away.

Hywel Dda University Health Board said: “Like some other areas across Wales and the UK we are continuing to deal with cases of Covid-19 and other respiratory infections in our hospitals.

“As a result, visiting arrangements to all hospitals in Hywel Dda UHB are being reviewed regularly and remain subject to change at short notice.”

With effect from today (Monday), all visits must be pre-arranged with the ward sister or charge nurse to enable us to maintain social distancing in our wards and across our sites. This means that a pre-booked visit for one person daily can be supported, provided your visit has a clear purpose and is in the best interest of the patient, in line with the following guidance.

This includes end of life, carer, parent or guardian or a patient with learning difficulties or dementia.

The current visiting arrangements within maternity services remain unchanged at this time.

A Hywel Dda spokesperson added: “Please note that visitors who do not meet the criteria will be asked to use a virtual visiting option instead which is available within the hospital, such as using a tablet or mobile phone. Family Liaison Officers will be available on wards to support access to virtual visiting.”

All visitors must carry out a lateral flow device (LFD) test at home and have a negative result from that test prior to travelling to the hospital.

Mandy Rayani, Executive Director of Nursing, Quality and Patient Experience, said: “On behalf of the health board I want to express our deepest gratitude to our patients, their families and our communities for their continued understanding and adherence to the very strict hospital visiting rules that we have had to impose throughout this pandemic.

“We appreciate that it is a difficult time for everyone. We will continue to support the wellbeing of our patients/service users, their families and loved ones in the best way we can, while keeping everyone as safe as possible.

“Our patient support team and family liaison officers can help to deliver essential items to patients from their family and facilitate communication through digital options/telephone; if you need their assistance please call them on and 0300 0200 159 and they will do their best to help you.”

Please do not visit any of our hospital sites if you are unwell or have been asked to isolate by the contact tracing team.