VISITING times at Warrington Hospital have been changed to allow uninterrupted mealtimes and guaranteed rest for patients.

Visitors are asked to call in on friends and relatives between the hours of 3pm and 4.30pm and 6.30pm and 8pm.

The new times were introduced last Thursday to better suit patients and aid their recovery.

The only areas unaffected by the new visiting arrangements are the children's wards, intensive therapy unit (ITU), high dependency unit (HDU) and the neonatal unit.

Kath Holbourn, director of nursing and service development, said: "Visitors are a hugely valuable aid to the morale, well-being and recovery of patients in hospital.

"However, under the current visiting arrangements some patients may find that their mealtimes can sometimes be interrupted.

"Ill and recovering people need more food than healthy people and poor nutrition may increase the risk of infection, the length of stay in hospital and the chance of re-admission."

Anyone who finds it impossible to visit during the new hours may make special arrangements with the ward manager.

In a further bid to aid patient recovery, visitors are asked to report to staff on arrival, and to keep to a maximum of two at any one time.

An adult must accompany children under the age of 16 and anyone who knows they have an infection should stay away.

Visitors are also asked to wash their hands or use an alcohol hand rub when entering a ward.