Banbury's Horton and JR hospitals introduce immediate restrictions in coronavirus response

Restrictions on visiting times are introduced immediately at Banbury's Horton and the four Oxford hospitals

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust has introduced the restrictions today (Monday) in response to the threat of Covid-19 virus transmission.

A spokesman said: "With immediate effect, we are limiting visiting to all adult inpatient areas to one visitor per patient - and visiting hours will be restricted to 4pm - 7pm only.

"We are also limiting the number of people who can accompany patients to our Emergency Departments, Emergency Assessment Units (EAU), outpatient departments, antenatal scans and imaging appointments to one person per patient.

"In Maternity, we are restricting visitors to birth partners only for all appointments including scans, the birth itself and postnatal visiting.

"In Paediatrics, visiting is restricted to two parents/guardians only - no siblings.

"In Maternity and Paediatrics the restrictions on visiting hours will not apply."

The trust said exceptions to rules would need to be discussed with the nurse or midwife in charge of the ward or department.

The restrictions apply to the trust's four hospitals, the Horton, the Churchill Hospital, John Radcliffe Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Oxford.