VISITOR restrictions have been reintroduced at Royal Bournemouth and Poole hospitals due to the coronavirus pandemic.

A senior University Hospitals Dorset Trust nursing officer said a “difficult decision” had been made but it was seen as the right time for patients and to ensure the hospitals run as “efficiently and effectively as possible”.

From Thursday, November 5, visitors are no longer allowed into the trust’s hospitals, with a handful of exceptions.

Deputy chief nursing officer Fiona Hoskins gave details on these exceptions, which relate to maternity, paediatrics, advocates and patients receiving end of life care.

Fiona Hoskins, deputy chief nursing officer, said: “We have made the difficult decision to reintroduce some of the visiting restrictions that were in place earlier on this year.

“For maternity, one birth partner only and one partner for the 20-week scan. Unfortunately, no children are permitted.

“For paediatrics, one parent or guardian only, no siblings.

“Advocates: Visitors who are required to make decisions on behalf of patients who do not have capacity to do though themselves will be permitted.

“Patients at the end of life: In these difficult circumstances, up to one visitor per patient will be permitted to allow families to spend time together.

“We realise that this message is difficult for friends and relatives of our patients to hear, however, at this time during Covid-19 we feel this is the right decision to make for our patients and to help keep the hospitals running as efficiently and effectively as possible.”

A statement from the trust added: “As the spread of the coronavirus evolves, we have had to make changes to the usual guidance on visiting.

“We need to reduce the number of people visiting our hospitals which will help us maintain social distancing and ensure we are protecting our staff, patients and their families as best as we can.

“We understand this can be difficult but it is essential to slow the spread of the infection.”