Decisions to restrict hospital visits during the pandemic in Northern Ireland were taken as "the least worst option", the former chief nursing officer (CNO) for the region has said.Professor Charlotte McArdle also said vacancy levels in nursing immediately before the pandemic were at their highest levels in recent years.She told the UK Covid-19 Inquiry on Wednesday that Northern Ireland "led the way" in ensuring visitor restrictions were carried out in a person-centred way.

Decisions to restrict hospital visits during the pandemic in Northern Ireland were taken as "the least worst option", the former chief nursing officer (CNO) for the region has said.Professor Charlotte McArdle also said vacancy levels in nursing immediately before the pandemic were at their highest levels in recent years.She told the UK Covid-19 Inquiry on Wednesday that Northern Ireland "led the way" in ensuring visitor restrictions were carried out in a person-centred way.