VISITING rules at Oxfordshire's hospitals are being further relaxed to include weekends.

From tomorrow, the John Radcliffe's trust will be extending its 'rule of one' to apply seven days a week. This means one visitor, for one hour, per patient, once a day.

Hour slots will be booked in advance by staff on the ward, who will contact named next of kin to arrange an appointment.

Some patients will have different arrangements, such as women in labour, child patients, patients at the end of their life, and patients with learning difficulties.

Visiting is still not allowed on wards where coronavirus patients are being treated, and patients are expected to attend outpatient departments unaccompanied.

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Patients attending Emergency Departments and Emergency Assessment Units are also expected to be unaccompanied unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Sam Foster, chief nursing officer at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We have been really pleased to welcome visitors back to our hospitals.

"It's been lovely to have their support for their loved ones while they're under our care, and it's a really important part of our patients' recovery."

She added: "Now, following our successful trial of the 'rule of one', we are extending visiting hours to include the weekends too.

"We will still have measures to keep our patients and visitors safe, and this may mean that your experience is a little different to normal.

"We will keep this under review and would like to thank everyone in advance for their continued patience and understanding."

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