RESTRICTIONS on visiting hours for Warrington Hospital patients suffering from dementia have been abolished.

Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust will allow open visiting times for relatives and carers of dementia patients.

The hospital’s award-winning Forget Me Not unit is specially designed to cater for dementia patients, and visitors are welcome to see loved ones at any time of the day and into the evening.

Ward staff will encourage families to visit at a time that suits them and their families, and participate in care delivery or therapy while on the unit.

The hospital has allowed open visiting hours as part of John’s Campaign – which was started by the daughters of two Alzheimer’s sufferers.

Nicci Gerrard and Julia Jones have campaigned for families to be able to spend more time with their hospitalised relatives in memory of Dr John Gerrard and June Jones.

Many other wards at the hospital have introduced visiting hours of 2-8pm, and families of dementia patients receiving care on other units are issued with cards indicating they are allowed to visit at any time.

Karen Dawber, director of nursing at Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Families and carers play a vital part in the care of their loved ones and as such it is important for them to spend as much time with them as you wish – be that day or night.

“We introduced open visiting on our Forget Me Not unit which has been very much appreciated by families.

“Using our carers’ cards on other wards where a patient with dementia needs specialist care also ensures that they are invited to participate in care, activities and decisions for their treatment which is so important.”