My Mum has supranuclear palsy which is a progressive disease that will eventually end her life. Yesterday, her son tried to visit her at the hospital and was turned away at the reception with the ward stating that she was not allowed visitors. She had not had a visit from anyone for that day. She had also returned a negative covid test. I'm writing this petition to gather support and awareness on the crazy hospital visiting policies currently in place. Non-Covid patients are getting left lonely in hospitals because of restrictive visitor policies throughout New Zealand. When people are injured or sick part of their recovery is having loved ones close but family members, relatives and loved ones are getting blocked from visiting because of out of control visiting restrictions and security measures.

Hospital staff do not care about reduced visiting, in fact some are enjoying not having increased visitors. The bureaucracy of the nomination process has led to a prison like environment surrounding the hospital. The stress these processes have put on society and patients is causing more harm than good.

Obviously, patients that are infected with COVID need to be in a controlled environment but this should not extend to the whole hospital.

With vaccination rates one of the highest in the world we have no good reason for the continuation of these restrictive and stressful visiting policies especially for non-covid patients. Examples of where these insane visiting policies is now in place is Auckland hospital, north shore hospital, Waitakete hospital, where each hospital is only allowing all patients to have a maximum of two nominated visitors, and for the patient to only have ONE visit a day. If we are to accept living with COVID then we need to start "being kind" to our hospital patients who often need kindness the most. Please sign this petition to remove visiting restrictions on our vulnerable and sick non-covid patients.