BARNSLEY Hospital will reintroduce face-to-face visiting for certain departments as coronavirus regulations begin to be relaxed.

General visiting to the hospital will continue to be suspended but the exceptions to this are:

•If you are a birthing partner accompanying a woman in labour.

•If you are a parent or appropriate adult visiting your child.

•If the patient you wish to visit is receiving end-of-life care.

Physical visiting will be reintroduced for; vulnerable patients, including patients with dementia or a learning disability, and patients in non-Covid critical care areas.

Visitors will not be permitted to Covid areas, and any patients who need to attend the emergency department should do so by themselves where possible.

A spokesperson for the hospital said: “All visits are limited to a maximum of one hour, and a specific time will be agreed with the ward.

“Patients are also able to communicate with their friends and family using their own mobile device, directly from their inpatient ward.

"For patients unable to use their own device, we have devices available for them to keep in touch with their loved ones.”