Visiting restrictions at South Tyneside District Hospital and Sunderland Royal are to be eased from Monday - with named visitors able to book to see their loved ones on a ward.
The booking system - which will apply to one named visitor - opens on Saturday.
The hospital trust has also announced that pregnant women will be able to have one person accompany them to pre-birth appointments and will also be allowed two birthing partners.
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Children will be able to have both parents with them in hospital, while adults attending A&E will be able to be accompanied for the first time in months.
Visitors will be asked to wear PPE, including face mask, gloves and apron - at the hospitals, and and must follow guidance around hand washing and social distancing.
The Trust has also asked that only those who have had three Covid-19 vaccinations visit.
Visitors are also encouraged to self-test before they come into the hospital.
For those with dementia or a learning disability or patients receiving end of live care discretionary arrangements will continue - families are encouraged to contact the nurse in charge of the ward in question.
Where visiting in person is not possible for patients and families, iPads will remain available.
Melanie Johnson, Director of Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals at the Trust, said: "We know how important spending time with loved ones is to our patients and the positive effect it can have on recovery and wellbeing.
"We are all looking forward to welcoming visitors back into our hospitals, but do ask that they follow the guidance we have set out. This includes wearing a facemask at all times in our buildings and following all of the guidance given to them by our team to help keep our patients and staff safe."
She also said it was important that people who felt unwell or had a household member with Covid-19 stayed away - she added: "The pressures on our hospitals and community services are still significant and we must remember that we care for some of the sickest and most vulnerable people in our community.
"While we all want to return to some kind of normality, our absolute priority is to protect our patients and our staff."
The new measures will apply to the Trust's three main hospital sites and the rehab facility at Houghton Primary Care Centre.
