TEMPORARY restrictions on visiting four hospitals are being introduced to help minimise the risk of patients and staff catching swine flu.

From tomorrow, only one visitor per bedside will be permitted at William Julien Courtauld's maternity ward Braintree, Broomfield and St John's hospitals in Chelmsford, and St Peter's in Maldon.

No children under 12 years will be able to visit and pregnant women are also advised not to visit.

William Julien Courtauld runs a policy anyway of not allowing children under 16, unless their mother is being cared for on the maternity ward.

Philippa Lowe, interim chief executive of Mid Essex Hospitals, said: “Currently we do not have a problem with swine flu at our hospitals, so to ensure it stays that way we are asking the public to help us.

"By restricting the number of visitors that we allow into the hospital we can limit the number of infections that are brought in. "We are also not allowing children less than 12 years to visit as they carry infections for longer.”

Visitors are also being asked to adhere to strict infection control procedures, including using the alcohol hand gel supplied when entering a ward area.