Some NHS trusts get terribly wound up over visiting times, imposing strict restrictions on the numbers and ages of those who can see patients.

But East Kent Hospitals University foundation trust took it all in its stride when a 13-year-old hawk turned up to visit patient Karen Pearson.

Ms Pearson was missing the bird of prey, Belle, which belongs to her partner Bob Barlow, so a reunion in the hospital grounds was hastily arranged along with the couple’s dogs. The trust was probably just grateful it wasn’t a pet pig.