Grey Bruce Health Services (GBHS) has updated its Family Presence policy and is now permitting inpatients to have one person visit in hospital effective Wednesday, June 2. In a June 1 media release, since the Stay at Home Order went into effect in April, visitors had been restricted at all GBHS hospitals with the exception of special circumstances.

Under the new policy visitors must be identified by the patient upon admission. Visiting times in Owen Sound, Wiarton, Lion’s Head and Southampton hospitals are daily from 3 to 6:30pm, and in Markdale and Meaford hospitals, from 12 to 3:30pm daily. Visitors are required to call the Nursing Station prior to visiting as schedules may change.

Outpatients coming into hospital for pre-booked appointments are asked to come alone to reduce traffic within the hospitals.

A number of precautions are in place to ensure that the re-introduction of Family Presence is done safely and GBHS looks forward to returning to their pre-pandemic approach in which visitors were permitted to come any time based on the patients' wishes.