Coronavirus Information

Updated 17/08/2020

We will ensure this page is regularly updated as the situation with COVID-19 (known as Coronavirus) continues to develop. If you think you might have Coronavirus, please follow the UK Chief Medical Officer’s guidance – stay indoors and contact NHS 111.

Guidance for visitors at the Hospital

As a result of the incidence of Coronavirus (COVID-19) across the country, we are taking measures to help protect all our patients in the Hospital.

Our top priority during the COVID–19 pandemic is to protect our patients and the staff who are caring for them.

In line with national guidance we have implemented restrictions on visitors to our Hospital

Visitor restrictions

Visitors will only be allowed into clinical areas if the patient is:

• At the end of their life
• There is an exceptional circumstance and an agreement has been made between the patient, the patients family or next of kin and a senior member of the nursing staff.

Only one visitor at a time will be allowed in these cases, the following considerations are discussed; mode of transport to the Hospital or Hospice, vulnerable members of the visitors household, time and duration of visiting.

Prior to you your admission if you need to arrange a visitor please discuss this during your pre-assessment telephone call with a member of our nursing team who will discuss and agree this with you and ensure that the Ward are informed. Should a visiting requirement develop during your stay please discuss with the Nurse in Charge of the ward.

When visiting

The Hospital has put a number of measures in place to ensure patients and staff safety and social distancing measures can be adhered to. When visiting the hospital please follow these guidelines:

• On arrival you will be asked to use the sanitiser, apply a mask if not already wearing one and have your temperature checked.
• Wash your hands regularly and use the hand sanitiser touch points throughout the Hospital.
• Maintain social distancing rules at all times, keeping 2 metres away from other patients and staff.

Important information

Do not enter the Hospital if you have a new continuous cough, high temperature (you feel hot to touch on your back or chest), loss or change to your smell or taste, any flu or cold like symptoms – please contact NHS 111 and self-isolate. Please also do not visit if you have infectious illnesses like diarrhoea or vomiting.

Infection prevention control measures

The Hospital Management Team is meeting regularly to look at the impact of COVID-19 on the Hospital and the Hospice, to support staff and keep patients safe. We are particularly fortunate to have Consultant Microbiologists that work within Public Health England and the National Office at Guys & St Thomas’ to advise and support the Hospital as well as a strengthened infection control team.

We will ensure this page is regularly updated as the situation with COVID-19 (known as Coronavirus) continues to develop. If you or a member of your family has any flu like symptoms, please follow Public Health England guidance by self isolating and visiting NHS 111 online.

Coronavirus symptoms

Public Health England (PHE) has outlined the symptoms of Coronavirus as follows:

• Temperature over 37.5 degrees Celsius (you feel hot to touch on your back or chest)
• A new, continuous cough
• A loss or change to your smell or taste
• Shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.

St John & St Elizabeth Hospital policy

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic we have been taking additional measures to help protect vulnerable patients in the Hospital and Hospice, as well as the staff caring for them. These measures continue to be in place:

• We are no longer accepting patient visitors, although some exceptions may be made where patients are receiving end of life care. We recognise that this is a potentially distressing time for patients and their families, and so we encourage visitors to use other methods of keeping in touch with their friends and family members, including phone and video calls.
• All patients attending Outpatient appointments should do so alone. Where the patient is a child, they may be accompanied by one parent or guardian.
• Please attend wearing a face mask, or ask for one from reception when you arrive
• Wash your hand regularly and use the hand sanitiser touch points throughout the Hospital
• Maintain social distancing rules at all times, keeping 2 metres away from other patients and staff
• Do not enter the Hospital or Hospice if you have a new continuous cough, high temperature (you feel hot to touch on your back or chest), loss or change to your smell or taste, cold, any flu like symptoms or infectious illnesses like diarrhoea or vomiting.
• If you have any of the above symptoms please self isolate and visit NHS 111 online.
• If you have surgery booked but have any of the symptoms listed above, please call to rearrange your appointment. You will only be admitted for surgery after you have been symptom free for 14 days.

How does Coronavirus spread?

• COVID-19 is an airborne virus that is thought to spread person-to-person via respiratory droplets produced when a person coughs or sneezes, or between people who are in close contact with each other (around 6 feet or less).
• It may be possible to get COVID-19 by touching a contaminated surface or object and then touching your mouth, nose or eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way that the virus spreads.

How to protect yourself and others

There are a number of ways to avoid contracting Coronavirus. It is the same set of principles when warding off any virus and it’s all about basic respiratory or cough hygiene.

The main things are:

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
• Bin used tissues straight away – don’t hold on to them.
• Don’t cough into your hands.
• Wash your hands with lots of soap and water.
• Avoid close contact with those people who are unwell.

DO NOT come to St John & St Elizabeth Hospital if you think you have Coronavirus

Most people who contract Coronavirus will have mild to moderate cold and flu like symptoms. The people who are most at risk of severe symptoms are those with weakened immune systems, many of whom are in hospital. Please do not put other people in danger. If you are concerned about yours or a loved ones health, please self isolate and visit NHS 111 online.

Advice to patients

• If you believe you might have Coronavirus, please follow Public Health England’s Advice by self-isolating at home and visiting NHS 111 online.
• If you or someone in your household has tested positive for COVID-19, please wait a minimum of 14 days until you are both symptom free before attending an appointment at the Hospital. If you have an appointment booked, please call to rearrange.
• If you or anyone in your household has any flu like symptoms, please do not visit the Hospital. Self isolate and visit NHS 111 online.

Advice to visitors

As a result of increasing incidence of Coronavirus (COVID-19) across the country, we are taking additional measures to help protect vulnerable patients in the Hospital and Hospice.

Our top priority in the COVID–19 pandemic is to protect our patients and the staff who are caring for them. In line with national guidance we are restricting visitors to our Hospital and Hospice.

Visitors will only be allowed into clinical areas if the patient is:

• At the end of their life
• There is a exceptional circumstance and a agreement has been made between the patient, patients family or next of kin and a senior member of the nursing staff

Only one visitor at a time will be allowed in these cases, the following considerations are discussed; mode of transport to the Hospital or Hospice, vulnerable members of the visitors household, time and duration of visiting.

Do not enter the Hospital or Hospice if you have a new continuous cough, high temperature (you feel hot to touch on your back or chest), loss or change to your smell or taste, cold, any flu like symptoms or infectious illnesses like diarrhoea or vomiting.

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