New NHS Scotland visiting guidance recognises patients with special needs | from NHS Scotland
Recognition that patients with cognitive impairment may suffer even more greatly from restricted or no visiting from their family.
Following medical professional expertise and advice, NHS Scotland has updated the national visiting guidance to ensure that special arrangements are possible for family to support all those patients with mental health issues. To quote the guidance:
“One person to support someone with a mental health issue such as dementia, a learning disability or autism where not being present would cause the patient to be distressed.”
This guidance has since been shared with John’s Campaign.* This organisation immediately saw the benefits of the good practice in Scotland and as a result helped to convince NHS England to update its visitor guidance to match that of Scotland. This will help ensure compassionate and considerate care continues to be at the forefront of practice in the NHS.
Sources:
https://twitter.com/davidcmcnally/status/1248738650365612040
https://twitter.com/gillian_mcauley
https://www.nhsggc.org.uk/patients-and-visitors/person-centred-visiting/
https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-who-can-visit-covid-19-patients-in-hospital-11972742
*John's Campaign is an organisation which works to ensure carers for those living with dementia are allowed to stay with them in hospital outside visiting hours
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