Visiting to Colchester, Clacton and Harwich hospitals is set to be 'temporarily' suspended amid rising cases across north Essex. 

The East Suffolk and North Essex Trust has taken the decision the same day it stopped visitors to its Suffolk sites. 

Visiting will be suspended from the three hospitals from Friday, October 29. 

The trust said this was due to the high number of Covid-19 infections in the community and the increasing number of patients with Covid-19 in the trust’s hospitals.

In the seven days to October 21 there were 1,003 cases of Covid recorded in Colchester and 723 cases reported in Tendring. 

East Suffolk and North Essex Trust was caring for 64 coronavirus patients in hospital as of last Tuesday. 

As of 8am on October 19 the number of Covid patients was up from 39 on the same day the previous week.

The number of beds at trust occupied by people who tested positive for Covid-19 doubled in the last four weeks – 28 days ago, there were 32.

As of October 19 there were 13 patients in ventilator beds, up from six on October 9. 

The latest updated data for the past week is expected to be published tomorrow (Thursday, October 28). 

This latest update will affect Colchester Hospital, Clacton Hospital and Fryatt Hospital, Harwich.

Visiting is already suspended at Ipswich Hospital, Aldeburgh Hospital, Felixstowe Hospital and Bluebird Lodge in Ipswich.

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However, there are some exceptions and visiting will still be supported for:

  • End-of-life care
  • Those in formal caring roles for patients with, for example, learning disabilities or severe dementia
  • Parents of children
  • Maternity 

Giles Thorpe is chief nurse at the trust, said: “This week we have already taken the difficult decision to suspend visiting in our hospitals in east Suffolk.

“We have been keeping a close eye on community Covid-19 infection rates and the number of people in our hospitals with the virus and we now need to take the same action in north east Essex.

“This has not been an easy decision to make. We understand how important visiting is to our patients and their families and friends, but we must do everything we can to keep everyone safe in our hospitals.”

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Relatives of patients in east Suffolk and north east Essex can keep in touch with them via the Trust’s Letters to Loved Ones service.

How long will visiting be suspended for?

The situation will be reviewed in two weeks, in line with hospital admissions and community Covid-19 infection rates.

A decision will then be made about whether to continue with the suspension or return to a restricted visiting policy.

Mr Thorpe added: “We’d like to thank everyone in our communities for their support and understanding as we continue to respond to the challenges of the pandemic.”