PATIENTS in Forth Valley hospitals are able to receive one visitor for 45 minutes each day from this week, the health board has announced.

Updated arrangements came into force this Monday, January 24, following a period of "essential visiting only" in healthcare settings, such as at Forth Valley Royal Hospital.

Essential visiting only was introduced earlier this month following a rise in the number of patients with Covid-19.

However, the updated arrangements mean patients in all hospitals are able to have one visitor for 45 minutes each day, arranged in advance with ward staff.

Visitors will be asked to provide their contact details for Test & Protect and take a lateral flow device (LFD) test prior to each attendance.

There are no restrictions on time or the number of people providing supports for patients receiving end of life care.

Separate visiting arrangements are in place for maternity, neonatal and children's services within the Women and Children's Unit.

For antenatal appointments, one supportive person can accompany the patient to all appointments and one additional visitor may attend subject to risk assessments and physical distancing.

One person may be present for all maternity scans and one birth partner can attend throughout induction, labour and birth – except during a general anaesthetic – and a second birth partner may be requested subject to risk assessments.

Visiting at the Maternity Ward will see one birth partner allowed with time restrictions only where required.

Both parents or carers can visit the Neonatal Unit, maintaining physical distancing and a maximum of two people should visit the Children's Ward at any one time.

The Paediatric Day Care Unit (PDU) is restricted to one parent with exceptions where appropriate.

People should not visit if they feel unwell, have a new or continuous cough, had sickness or diarrhoea within the 48 hours prior to the visit, have any Covid-19 symptoms or are self-isolating.