People with loved ones in WA hospitals or hospices have welcomed new visiting rules, following heavy criticism towards the government.

A strict policy that saw visitors banned from entering hospital grounds except in extreme circumstances has now been changed to allow for one visitor at a time for patients during visiting hours. 

Irene Minson’s husband and WA football legend, Colin, is in St John of God Hospice in Murdoch, suffering from acute myeloid leukaemia.

She told Liam Bartlett on 6PR Mornings that she was very grateful that the rules had now changed.

“It was so exciting yesterday to see him. He was very emotional, and so was I. But not only me for other people, it would’ve been such a joy to see their husbands, wives, sisters, brothers,” she said.

“I don’t blame the hospitals. They’re going by the rules. But it sits squarely with the government. You know whoever’s making all these rules has really got to sit down and think.”

Press PLAY below to hear more on how relieved patients and visitors are of the policy change.