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Visiting hours have changed at the Royal Derby and Queen's hospitals.

From Monday, all University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust sites changed visiting hours to 08:00 to 20:00, seven days a week, for general wards and high-dependency units.

The new hours follow a change in national guidance as well as feedback from patients, visitors and staff, said the trust.

As well as the two main hospitals, the changes will also apply at most units at Florence Nightingale Community Hospital in Derby, Samuel Johnson Community Hospital in Lichfield and Sir Robert Peel Community Hospital in Tamworth.

A spokesperson for the trust said: "We recognised that we could offer more compassionate, patient-centred care and better experiences by changing our visiting hours so that you can visit your loved ones in our care at times that are flexible and fit around your life commitments.

“Your support and presence are essential to the health, wellbeing and in some cases, recovery of patients in our care.

“With this new change, patients can see the people they want to see at times that are more flexible and convenient to them and their family, friends and carers.”

Some departments and wards still have different individual hours and rules “to ensure patient safety, care and experience is prioritised”.

Areas that previously had 24-hour visiting times remain as before.

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