"Covid restrictions/relatives washing"

Our elderly aunt has been an inpatient for almost two weeks after suffering a slight stroke and urine infection. Understandably, as a family we respect and adhere to all the restrictions due to covid 19 and we were collecting her washing and delivering her clean clothes until last Monday, when we were told we could not continue to do this as the manager has stopped it for the time being.

Our aunt has called us on a number of occasions asking us to come get her washing. We explained to her but she said other patients have had clothes dropped off we contacted the ward to be told it can be changed any day as it’s up to the manager of the ward. My question is what is happening to the dirty washing while this rule is in place? and we were advised our aunt would be provided with hospital gowns.

If a proper explanation to why this rule is in place in some wards and not others would be greatly appreciated as she is becoming distressed on the phone to us my understanding was for patients to be dressed and up sitting as this helps with the recovery, and being in night clothes all day was very much discouraged these days. Surely one family member can wear appropriate PPE and have the belongings put outside the ward door to be collected? I would think bags of dirty washing building up within a ward area can’t be hygienic unless they are being stored elsewhere.