INPATIENT wards at Dorset’s community hospitals and mental health units have been closed to the public “until further notice”.

Dorset HealthCare has implemented these measures in line with the guidance from NHS England, as well as the government telling people to stay home.

People will be able to visit the wards in ‘exceptional circumstances’ however, which include visiting patients receiving end-of-life-care and child patients, who can still receive visits from one person.

Cara Southgate, the Trust’s deputy director of nursing, therapies and quality, said: “Our main focus continues to be to protect everyone.

“This step will not only allow us to protect those in our care and provide the safest possible service, but also help us to keep their loved ones in our community healthy.

“We understand how important visits are and the impact this will have. It is not a decision made lightly, and we will do everything we can to support our patients to keep in touch with their family and friends using technology.”