Visiting suspended at three Liverpool hospitals as COVID-19 rates hit record highs

Three Liverpool hospitals have suspended normal visiting arrangements as COVID-19 cases continue to rise in the region.

Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has introduced the measures at Royal Liverpool, Aintree University Hospital and Broadgreen University Hospital.

The ban has already commenced, with visiting arrangements now limited to the following exceptional circumstances:

• Two visitors for patients who are in their last hours / days and receiving end of life care. 
• One carer that is supporting someone with a mental health issue, cognitive impairment such as dementia, a learning disability or autism, where not being present would cause the patient to be distressed. 
• In exceptional cases, consideration will be given to individual requests following a comprehensive risk assessment.

What’s been said:

Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “Given increasing COVID-19 cases in our local regions, visiting has been suspended.

“We understand that patients, their families and friends may be upset at this decision, and that it is difficult to be separated from loved ones during these uncertain times.

“However the health, safety and wellbeing of our patients, communities and staff across the organisation remain our absolute priority.

“We will review these arrangements on a regular basis.”

COVID cases on the rise in Liverpool

According to the latest data, there were 19,583 positive COVID-19 infections in the Liverpool City Region in the seven days up to 24 December - a week-on-week increase of 103%.

Meanwhile, in three of the Liverpool City Region boroughs a quarter of people who took PCR tests in the run up to Christmas turned out to have COVID-19, putting the positivity rate at a record high.

Knowsley had the highest positivity rate in the region, hitting 25.5% - the 62nd highest in England.

While Wirral (20.3%) was the only borough not to register a record high rate, according to the latest weekly figures.

Positivity rates for the Liverpool City Region boroughs are:

Knowsley hit 25.5%, higher than the previous record of 23.7% in January 2021. The region has the 62nd highest rate in England.

St Helens recorded 25%,  higher than the previous record of 21.8% on 23 December, 2021. The region has the 69th highest rate in England.

Halton hit 24.8%, matching the record high for January, 2021. The region has the 75th highest rate in England.

Liverpool recorded 24.2%, higher than the previous record of 21.8% in January, 2021. The region has the 86th highest rate in England.

Sefton hit 21.4%, higher than the previous record of 18.9% on 23 December, 2021. The region has the 158th highest rate in England.

Wirral hit 20.3%, the record high for the region is 20.5% in January, 2021. The region has the 186th highest rate in England.