VISITING at all of Worcestershire’s community hospitals and mental health wards is suspended this weekend.

It follows a rise in Covid-19 cases in parts of the county, including Bromsgrove, which saw cases triple in the space of a week.

The ban means that visiting is now suspended at the Wyre Forest rehab ward at Kidderminster Hospital, as well as the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bromsgrove, Malvern Community Hospital, Tenbury Hospital, Pershore and Evesham.

Worcester City Inpatient Unit will also remain closed to visitors.

The suspension also covers all Worcestershire’s mental health and recovery wards over this weekend.

There will be some exceptions, for example visiting for patients who are receiving end of life care.

Visiting at Worcestershire’s community hospitals and mental health wards opened on an appointment only basis a few weeks ago, while visiting at acute hospitals in Redditch, Worcester and Kidderminster has remained closed since the coronavirus outbreak.

Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust said the situation will be reviewed again early next week.

Any relatives with a visiting appointment booked for this weekend will be offered a virtual visit supported by ward staff.

For more information on visiting rules, call the trust on 01905 681517 or email whcnhs.pals@nhs.net.