Visitor restrictions easing at Nova Scotia hospitals

Cancer patients, women in labour and people in palliative care are among those who will be allowed additional people for support after the Nova ScotiaHealth Authority and IWKHealth Centreannounced changes to strict visitation rules.

Hospitals across the province banned nearly all visitors at the beginning of the pandemic.

Those initialchanges went against a familycentred approach to care in order to prevent COVID-19 from spreading in the hospitals.

At the IWK, the rules limited pediatric patients to one parent or guardian with them during their stay. Now, two people are allowed to be with a child who has been admitted to the hospital.

Women in labour can also have two people by their side.

The IWK is letting patients have one support person for the following situations:

• pediatric appointments.
• day surgery.
• emergency department situations.
• early labour.

As for the province's other hospitals, the NSHA is applying the two-person rule to those in palliative care or for those who are receiving medical assistance in dying.

"We know that the restrictions have been difficult for patients and families," the health authority wrote in a statement.

"The criteria for who is eligible for these visits has not changed."

The NSHA further stated it was forced to balance the benefits of having more caregiversin the facilityagainst the increased risk of spreading the virus.

"With both those things in mind, we will be lifting restrictions gradually where it is feasible and safe to do so within public health guidelines."

Cancer patients previouslyhad to be alone for their appointmentsunless they were getting an initial diagnosis. Now, they can bring one person with them.

The NSHA will also allow one support person if patients are:

• in critical care.
• some emergency situations.
• being discharged.

Those with significant cognitive or physical disabilities might also be allowed to bring someone with them, but that will be determined on a casebycase basis.

The IWK says everyone will still be screened for COVID-19 at the entrance.All other visitors will continue to be turned away.