VISITING at all of Worcestershire’s community hospitals and mental health wards will remain closed this week.

Visiting was suspended following a rise in COVID-19 cases in parts of the county.

It means that visiting is now closed at the community hospitals in Bromsgrove, Malvern, Tenbury, Pershore, Evesham, as well as at Wyre Forest Ward in Kidderminster.

Worcester City Inpatient Unit also remains closed to visitors.

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

The closure to visitors covers all Worcestershire’s mental health/recovery wards too although mental health units in Herefordshire, which are also run by the Trust, are unaffected and visiting remains open on an appointment only basis.

Relatives will be offered a virtual visit supported by ward staff and the situation will be reviewed again later this week.

Visiting at Worcestershire’s community hospitals and mental health wards did open on an appointment only basis a few weeks ago.

Visiting at Acute Hospitals in Redditch, Worcester and Kidderminster have remained closed since the COVID-19 outbreak.

Further information on visiting is available online at www.hacw.nhs.uk/visiting.