The clarification came after FN was contacted by a member of the public who said they were confused by a change of visiting times in one of the hospital’s wards this week.

However, the Trust insists their new policy, which will include rigid new visiting hours and a limit on the number of people around beds, will not come into operation until September 1.

Visitors will also be asked to refrain from touching patients’ wounds or notes, to wash their hands or use alcohol hand rub both before and after visiting the hospital and avoid visiting if they are unwell.

The spokesperson said: “It is expected that the implementation of the policy, which the Trust hopes the public will cooperate with in the interests of their relatives and friends in hospital, will bring a uniform and consistent approach to visiting arrangements and hours of visiting across all Trust hospitals.

“The policy has been developed to promote the health and wellbeing of patients and has an important role in protecting against healthcare associated infections. The Trust recently announced that it was introducing the policy, effective from September 1, to create awareness among staff and the public of these planned new arrangements and allow them to prepare for its implementation.”