Hospitals fully reopen to visitors

HOSPITALS across Dumfries and Galloway have today reopened for normal visiting after two weeks of restricted visiting. Restrictions have been lifted at Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary, Midpark Hospital, Galloway Community Hospital and the area's cottage hospitals. However, visitors will still have to wear masks at all times in clinical areas and have been asked not to remove them when talking to patients, in order to reduce the risk of passing on an infection. It came as public health experts say the threat of flu has reduced in the region sufficiently to allow normal visiting to resume. NHS DG public health consultant Keith Allan said: “We’re very grateful to all the visitors for their understanding and support over the last two weeks. "Especially over the holidays, isolation can be a painful experience for someone in hospital. Staying cautious and keeping everyone safe during your visit is the best way of ensuring that visiting can continue.”