SHORTER visiting hours and new restrictions on visitor numbers at a North Yorkshire hospital are generally being welcomed by patients, say hospital chiefs.

For decades, visiting times at Harrogate District Hospital were between 2pm and 8pm with no limit on numbers at any one time. Since January 1, the hours have been cut to between 2pm and 4pm, and 6pm to 8pm. In addition, each patient is being restricted to two visitors around the bed at any one time.

Hospital communications manager Gillian Neild said the new system was just beginning to settle down, but the hospital welcomed views about the scheme.

Restrictions were introduced because in some cases patients had several visitors at once, not only overwhelming them, but causing noise for other patients.

The hospital say changes, say were made in response to patients who found long-term visits tiring.

Ms Neild stressed that exceptions could be made if, for example, a patient wanted to see a grandchild for a brief visit, or if there were other exceptional circumstances.

Harrogate Hospital said visitors were sometimes able to help feed patients at meal-times, but generally patients needed to have their meals without being disturbed.

"Matrons and nurses in charge do have some flexibility over guidelines of the policy," said the official, adding that other hospitals were moving to the same system, including Scarborough, where restrictions have also been introduced recently.

The hospital serves a large area including Ripon, Masham, Knaresborough, Pateley Bridge, Boroughbridge, Harrogate and the Wetherby area.