Stricter guidelines for visitors to our hospitals following coronavirus outbreak

From 6am today (Thursday) East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust is no longer allowing visitors on site, with limited exceptions.

Visitors are not permitted, except for the following reasons:

• the patient is receiving end-of-life care • the patient is a child or neonate. The visitor must be a parent or designated carer only

• they are a partner or birthing partner accompanying a woman in labour. Instead, the Trust is asking friends and family members to use other ways of keeping in touch, like phone calls, FaceTime and Skype.

All patients can now watch their bedside televisions free of charge, at all times, thanks to a new package funded by the Trust.

Please follow the Government guidance to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives.

A Trust spokesman said: "The Trust appreciates that this is a very troubling time for everyone, and asks for the public’s help in respecting these rules which keep patients and staff safe."