WEE COUNTY families looking to keep loved-ones company in hospital will now be able to do so throughout the day.

NHS Forth Valley have relaxed the restrictions on visiting times in an attempt to improve patients’ experience and enhance their quality of care.

Families, friends and carers are now welcome to see patients at any time of the day rather than during specific visiting hours.

Person-Centred Visiting has introduced an open policy in the majority of wards at Larbert's Forth Valley Royal Hospital and inpatient wards at all community hospitals.

The change is part of the Scottish Government’s Person-Centred Visiting Initiative which aims to help people be part of the care of a loved one.

Elaine Kettings, NHS Forth Valley’s head of person-centred care, said: “Some of our patients are in our care for a period of time so we want to make it as homely as possible for them.

“Patients may welcome encouragement and support at mealtimes; others may have been early risers all their lives and it would be good for their wellbeing to have a visitor join them at breakfast or deliver the morning paper and have a tea or a coffee with them.

“We believe that patients’ families, carers and friends have an important role to play as part of the care team and we are encouraging our patients to tell us how they would like their loved ones to be involved in their care.”

The move follows an initial pilot scheme at Falkirk Community Hospital where restrictions on visiting times were lifted at the end of 2019 and was extremely successful with relatives, friends and carers enthusiastic about the change.

Evidence suggests that removing restrictions on visiting times can improve a patient’s experience and enhance their quality of care.

However, to keep patients safe, there may be times when visitors are asked to step outside the ward to allow all patients to receive care and treatment with privacy in a safe and dignified way.