AFTER two years of pandemic health restrictions that have kept Mildura Base Public Hospital patients from seeing loved ones, the doors will again be open to visitors from Friday morning.
Although mask requirements will remain in place and visitor numbers will be limited, the change will be the most significant easing of hospital rules since the beginning of the COVID-19 health crisis.
The opening up is expected to create a new challenge for the hospital, however, as carparking at its Ontario Avenue site, already considered inadequate before the pandemic, could be overwhelmed by an initial flood of returning visitors.
Hospital chief executive Terry Welch was unavailable for comment on Thursday, but a hospital spokesperson said that "we are extremely pleased to be welcoming visitors back to the hospital".
"It is really exciting for us that patients can again have the support of family and loved ones," they said.
Under Victorian Health Department directions, visitors have been prevented from seeing patients since the start of the pandemic because of the risk of bringing COVID into the hospital, but the spokesperson said latest advice from the department was that it was now safe to do so under strict conditions, which will include the mask requirements and limits on visitor numbers.
In most cases, up to two visitors per day will be allowed, although patients facing terminal illness or life-threatening or unstable conditions will have no daily limit on visitor numbers. They will, however, be able to see only two visitors at any one time.
Patients in the emergency department will be allowed only one visitor at a time, although a second person may be allowed under special circumstances that will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
In the labour and birth ward, two support persons will be allowed during labour.
Visitations to COVID patients will be limited, but exemptions will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Hospital management is concerned, however, that limited parking will cause frustrations for visitors.
The spokesperson said that increase in staff numbers since the hospital had been returned to public management had further reduced spaces and that work was under way to stretch capacity "but we are limited by the space we have around us".
"That limited space is causing issues that will only get worse as we welcome back visitors," they said.
New visitor rules, Mildura Base Public Hospital, effective as of 10am, Friday, March 25.
Visiting hours: 10am – 6pm (Authorised support persons/carers/guardians, though included in total visitor numbers per day, are not restricted by these visiting hours)
Visitor Entry Restrictions:
Emergency Department
One person at a time may accompany patient in ED waiting area and while in the department (due to small size of waiting areas).
A second person may be considered to accompany the patient in certain circumstances on a case-by-case basis.
Masks must be worn by visitors regardless of vaccination status and N95 masks are recommended for all visitors in ED due to this being an extreme-risk area.
Masks will be made available to visitors and patients.
Labour and Birth Ward
Two support persons may be present during labour.
Maternity Ward
Two visitors in a 24hr period during above visiting hours.
No limitations on duration of visit (within the visiting hours).
Please note: Normal Maternity Ward patient rest period of 1pm-3.30pm.
Children under the age of 18 are permitted as one of the two daily visitors.
Children (under 18 years) in any ward
Two visitors in a 24hr period during above visiting hours.
No limitations on duration of visit (within the visiting hours).
Parent, carer or guardian permitted to stay with child at all times.
Wards and ICU
Two visitors in a 24hr period during above visiting hours.
No limitations on duration of visit (within the visiting hours).
Please note: Normal ICU patient rest period of 1.30pm-3.30pm.
Outpatient visits (Mental Health, Allied Health, Community Services, Specialist Clinic etc)
One person at a time may accompany patient in the waiting area and while attending their appointment (due to the small size of waiting areas).
A second person may be considered to accompany the patient in certain circumstances on a case-by-case basis.
Terminal care / life-threatening situations / unstable or deteriorating situations
No more than two visitors may be present with patient at any one time. Exemptions to this can be considered in certain circumstances on a case-by-case basis.
No limits on number of visitors in the 24hr period.
No limitations on duration of visit.
In these situations, the hospital will work with families on a case-by-case basis to determine the best visitation for them and the health service.
COVID wards, COVID-positive Patients, patients who are isolating/in quarantine
Visitor exemptions are assessed on a case-by-case basis in accordance with Victorian Government health directives.
Any approved visitors must follow strict conditions of entry including, but not limited to, use of mask and other protective equipment and limited movement throughout the hospital.
