Visitation restrictions at Dr D Orlando Smith hospital relaxed

Visitation restrictions that have been in effect at the Dr D Orlando Smith Hospital since March have now been relaxed.

Persons are now allowed to visit patients between 11 am and 1 pm daily.

In a government media release on Friday, Chief Operations Officer (COO) at BVI Health Services Authority, Cedorene Malone-Smith said the restriction on visits were relaxed in consideration of the ‘vital role’ family plays in the overall health and wellbeing of patients.

“Visitors will gain access through the main lobby of the Dr D Orlando Smith Hospital, where they will be screened. Visitors must sanitise their hands and wear a mask at all times and only visit their approved patient,” Malone-Smith stated.

She further said approved visitors will be given a badge and escorted to the patient that they plan to visit.

The hospital COO also said ‘special considerations’ will be given for visits to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Paediatrics and patients with special circumstances.

Because of “the nature of ICU and the vulnerability of those patients”, persons interested in visiting the ICU will only be allowed 15 minutes.

For other patients, the hospital is allowing a maximum of two visitors per day for a maximum of 45 minutes per visitor. Visitors must present identification and children below 13 will not be allowed to enter.

Malone-Smith said these parameters and guidelines are “for the safety and protection of visitors, patients and the staff”.

The hospital was closed to visitors because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.