A hospital in England has apologised after Kirstie Allsopp challenged its tweet saying that visiting was suspended. The TV presenter has now urged families to make sure they know their rights - and to see their loved ones in hospital.
Allsopp challenged a tweet by Northampton General Hospital that said it had "suspended visiting for all adult inpatient wards... due to a significant increase in COVID and flu infections." The co-presenter of Channel 4 show Location, Location, Location had previously criticised the visiting policies of Welsh hospitals, claiming NHS bosses have "no business" still making use of the "wicked" restrictions introduced during the pandemic.
Regarding the Northampton Hospital's tweet, Allsopp said: "This tweet is wrong, there are numerous exceptions and circumstances where visitors are allowed. If you live in the Northampton area do make sure you know your rights."
A spokesperson for the hospital later replied: "Hi Kirstie, We apologise if this wasn't clear. As per the link included above, there are many exceptions to our visiting suspensions. These include maternity, paediatrics and compassionate visiting. Compassionate visiting can be discussed with our ward teams. Thank you. "
Allsopp shared the response, commenting: "Make sure you know your rights and see your loved ones in hospital. If they need you, or you need them it is likely that you are an exception.
"Do not let a frightened, confused or vulnerable family member be alone because you don’t want to make a fuss."
However, the presenter took to twitter to praise another hospital. She tweeted: "Bravo @SheffieldHosp kind, compassionate visiting info on you website, setting an example for the rest."
Allsopp has opposed the Covid-19 lockdowns, which she said had affected the mental health of young people and revealed a "mealy-mouthed gutlessness in people".
Writing in the Telegraph earlier this week she said: "Restrictions which limit the time you can be with a patient to an hour a day, by appointment, and at a time which is set by the hospital are frankly wicked and the fact that some hospitals are still sticking to these rules is appalling.
"Welsh hospitals are particularly bad in this respect; one lovely contributor to our show told me he believed that the strain put on his elderly mother by being the only person who could go to see his father had killed her. Making the appointment, rushing to be on time for the measly hour a day set by the hospital, and then doing it all again the next day was just too much for her."
She added: "One day in summer I was filming in Manchester and I was on the telephone talking to a journalist about these restrictions. When I returned to the crew I apologised to my director for my absence and explained what I'd been doing, out of the blue he began to cry and told me that his grandmother had recently died alone in hospital because of this type of restriction in Wales."
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