Families and loved ones of patients at Macclesfield District General Hospital can now spend more time together, as the East Cheshire NHS Trust has introduced expanded visiting hours across all adult inpatient wards.
Effective from April 2026, the new policy allows visitors to see patients between 11:00am and 7:00pm daily. This change marks a significant shift from the highly restricted access seen during the pandemic, when visiting was often limited to just one hour a day by prior booking.
Paul Devlin, the Deputy Chief Nurse at the trust, said the move is part of an effort to focus on compassionate, person-centred care. He noted that having loved ones nearby plays a vital role in a patient’s recovery and overall wellbeing, while ensuring that the hospital maintains safety, privacy, and dignity.
Under the updated arrangements, a maximum of two visitors are permitted at the bedside at any one time. The trust has also confirmed that individual arrangements will remain in place for patients receiving end-of-life care or for those who require additional support, ensuring flexibility for specific needs.
The decision follows a broader national push by NHS England, which has encouraged hospitals to move back toward pre-pandemic visiting policies to ensure patients are not left to recover in isolation. This expansion also comes after the Care Quality Commission released a report earlier this year that identified areas for improvement at the hospital, including its responsiveness.
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