AQW 21148/17-22

Ms Paula Bradshaw
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 29/06/2021
Answered On Date: 19/07/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to outline the basis upon which he will enable more visiting for patients in hospital with specific mental health needs, such as elderly people reliant on family for care.

Answer:

The current guidance on visiting in Healthcare settings, “A Pathway to Enhanced Visiting” set out a graduated easement of the restrictions on visiting in various settings, with details on the assessment tools to be used to decide when to progress further in the planned easements.

The guidance strikes a balance between acceding to the public’s understandable desire to increase their ability to be with their loved ones while they are in various care settings and the need to be cautious and protect vulnerable people, and the wider public, from the potential spread of coronavirus.