VISITING friends and relatives in hospital at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (RD&E) is set to become easier as the NHS trust running the hospital opens up its visiting hours.

From Monday, February 5, patient visiting will be open from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week. The public are currently only able to visit patients on general wards at set times in the afternoon and early evening.

The move to more flexible hours comes in a bid to make visiting patients in hospital easier and more accessible for friends, relatives and carers, who will be able to choose to visit at a time that is most convenient.

It is hoped that it will also benefit patients, in particular the vulnerable and the elderly, to see familiar faces around more often when staying in hospital and will enable carers to support their relatives in every day care and activities.

As with all changes, the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust will monitor and review its impact and make any minor adjustments if required following feedback.

A new visitors’ charter has been developed by the trust to support the change in visiting hours.

The charter gives further details about what visitors can expect from the trust when visiting the RD&E and also outlines how the public can help staff maintain a healing and calm environment for patients through responsible visiting.

Em Wilkinson-Brice, deputy chief executive/chief nurse said: ‘I am delighted to announce that we will be opening up our visiting hours, making it easier and more accessible for patients’ family, friends and carers to visit their loved ones in hospital.

‘I, like many clinical colleagues, believe that support from family, friends and carers is an integral part of our patients’ recovery and I am therefore delighted to support this change.’

The visitors charter is available on the RD&E website www.rdehospital.nhs.uk/patients