Two visitors daily for BHS patients

No COVID-positive people are in ICU in the Ballarat Base Hospital. Photo: FILE

VISITATION rules have changed at all of Ballarat Health Services’ facilities in response to the State’s easing of COVID-19 restrictions.

General ward patients at the Base Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Centre can receive one lot of visitors per day. A maximum of two people who reside in the same household can visit for no more than two hours.

BHS’ aged care residents can welcome the same number of visitors, but for no more than 60 minutes. Family and friends of residents need to organise these meetings prior to arrival.

Patients who are pregnant can have their partner, or a selected support person, attend scans and appointments with them.

BHS CEO Dale Fraser said visitors are a positive and important part of the environment at each facility.

“Ballarat Health Services is proud to amend our visitor restrictions as we know that visitors have a very beneficial impact on our patients, residents and clients,” he said.

“That said, we are also working to ensure that visits are undertaken in a COVID-safe way, so that we can continue to protect those who are most vulnerable.

“While COVID-19 is not currently active in our region, there is a constant underlying risk of transmission, so we must all remain vigilant and continue to protect ourselves and our loved ones.”

Young people under 16 years of age are now able to visit BHS sites, and visitors of all ages need to wear a facemask at all times.

All visitors will be temperature-checked, record their contact details for potential tracing purposes, and respond to standard questions from staff about their current health.

If you have COVID-19 symptoms, book a test and stay at home to eliminate any risk of spread.

“Testing continues to be the most important thing that we can do to combat the spread of COVID-19, so if you have even the slightest of symptoms, please book in for a test, and self-isolate until you get your results,” Mr Fraser said.

Contact UFS’ Lucas COVID-19 testing clinic on 03 4311 1571. Visit bhs.org.au/covid-19 for further information.