NSW hospital visit rules changed for dying patients, new mothers

The Premier has declared it is time to prioritise “compassion” after overhauling hospital visit rules for family of specific patients.

Dominic Perrottet has welcomed changes to hospital Covid rules making it easier for visitors to see seriously ill, dying or maternity patients.

The three groups can have visitors if it is “beneficial for the patient’s emotional or physical wellbeing”, according to revised guidelines released by Health Minister Brad Hazzard on Wednesday afternoon.

The NSW Premier said on Thursday it was time to focus on “more compassion over caution” following “heartbreaking” situations where patients have died alone due to strict visitation rules.

Patients spending their last moments in hospital may be allowed greater visitor freedoms as soon as Wednesday afternoon. Picture: Getty

“Ultimately we want to see here is as people are coming to the end of their life, their family members are able to spend those special moments with them,” Dominic Perrottet told Channel 7.

“We believe the changes we have made today will ensure there is a presumption of compassion and understanding … and with caution in relation to making sure we don’t have Covid outbreaks in hospitals.”

The presumption of the guidelines is now in favour of ­allowing visits rather than blocking them.

Mr Perrottet said other hospital patients could also be allowed visitors depending on the circumstances.

“(Seriously ill, maternity and dying patients) are the main focus and obviously other areas where there are substantial mental health issues,” Mr Perrottet said.

Health minister Brad Hazzard has assured the public that updated hospital visitation guidelines would be subject to ongoing review.“If it needs some more work we will do it as we go,” he said.

Under the new guidelines, designed to “increase visitor access”, people will be allowed to visit patients at the end of their life, those diagnosed ill with a life-threatening condition, or women who are giving birth.

Visits will be allowed if it is “beneficial for the patient’s emotional or physical wellbeing”, the guidelines state.

Further safety measures may be applied where there is a “local high risk of Covid-19 transmission”.

“However, in such instances hospitals must apply as far as practicable care and compassion, and allow visitors,” the updated guidelines state.

The Premier also revealed NSW is on track for rules around masks, QR codes and density limits in hospitality and retail venues to be relaxed by the end of the month.

“We are very much on track to have most of those restrictions lifted on 27 February as we have set out in the roadmap,” he said.

Brad Hazzard said he would announce the revised guidelines as soon as possible. Picture: Gaye Gerard / NCA Newswire

The new rules come after Health Minister Brad Hazzard faced criticism for strict rules preventing people from being with loved ones at the end of their life.

But hospitals retain the right to have limits on the number of visitors at the bedside at any given time.”

The rules will require visitors to have had two vaccine doses or a medical exemption, and not have arrived from overseas in the past week.

They must also not be a “high risk contact” of a Covid case – someone who has “spent more than four hours in a home, accommodation premises or care facility with someone who has Covid-19”.

Joanna La Macchia, 43, was denied the right to visit her dying father Antonio Coluccio, 71, after he was admitted to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital with Covid-19 in early January.

Ms La Macchia (pictured) begged to see him but was not allowed, despite being fully vaccinated.

“I was crying hysterically because I wasn’t able to see him,” she said.