Exceptions are for patients receiving end-of-life care and for child patients, who can still receive visits from one person (in the case of a child, a parent or appropriate adult).

Dorset HealthCare has taken this difficult step in accordance with the latest guidance from NHS England, as well as the Government’s most recent COVID-19 (Coronavirus) advice urging people to stay at home.

Other than to shop for basic necessities such as food or medicines, for other medical needs, for absolutely unavoidable travel to work and for one form of exercise a day, we must all remain in our homes.

Cara Southgate, the Trust’s deputy director of Nursing, Therapies and Quality, said, “Our main focus continues to be to protect everyone. This step will not only allow us to protect those in our care and provide the safest possible service, but also help us to keep their loved ones in our community healthy.

“We understand how important visits are and the impact this will have. It is not a decision made lightly, and we will do everything we can to support our patients to keep in touch with their family and friends using technology.

“As with all these precautionary measures, we will be strictly following national guidance and working with our partners in Public Health and the wider NHS to review their use. We will ensure that any changes are clearly communicated but, for the time being, visitors will have to be turned away from our units.

“We thank everyone for their understanding and co-operation at this challenging time.”

Dorset HealthCare runs community hospitals with inpatient wards in Blandford, Bridport, Poole (Alderney Hospital), Swanage, Shaftesbury, Sherborne, Weymouth (Westhaven Hospital) and Wimborne.

It also has mental health inpatient units in Bournemouth, Charminster, Dorchester and Poole (St Ann’s Hospital).

More information is available at www.dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk