COVID-19 (coronavirus): Information for the public

Overview
Patient leaflets

Overview

Last updated: 15 July 2021

Hands. Face. Space. Let’s continue to keep hospitals safe

This page is continually being updated to reflect the changing situation. Please check this page and our social media channels regularly for the latest information.

As of 19 July 2021, the information below still applies for all of our patients and visitors. Thank you for helping us to keep you, our patients, and our staff safe.

We know that Covid restrictions will end in many settings in England from Monday 19 July. This does not change for NHS buildings - everyone accessing or visiting our hospitals or our community sites must continue to wear a face covering and follow social distancing rules to help stop the spread of coronavirus.

Public Health England’s infection prevention control guidelines and hospital visiting guidance will remain in place for all staff and visitors and we kindly ask you to observe our rules and continue to wear a face covering for the benefit of our patients and for our staff who are working incredibly hard at this time. Anyone entering our buildings without a face covering will be offered a surgical face mask to wear. Everyone has a part to play in helping to control Covid by acting responsibly and helping to protect our staff and patients, particularly those who may be more vulnerable to infections. Our staff are doing their best in difficult circumstances, please be respectful towards them if they ask you to wear a face covering, observe social distancing or wash/gel your hands.

In response to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak, we have extra measures in place to protect patients, visitors and staff. Find out more about these measures and how you can support the trust during this challenging time by reading how we're keeping you safe.

· We’re asking that all patients and visitors wear a face mask or face covering at all times while at one of our hospitals or in a community site.

· Patients and visitors are also asked to keep your distance from others at all times.

· Use hand sanitiser or wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with warm water and soap as soon as you arrive. Hand sanitiser is available at all of our entrances and across buildings so that you can clean your hands more frequently.

· Currently, visiting to our hospitals is still reduced. You can use our free NHS WiFi to keep in touch with family and friends by video or phone call. If you don’t have a suitable device, let us know and we will help you to make calls.

Important information - please read

Information in other languages on COVID-19 symptoms, testing and how to self-isolate is available on the Doctors of the World website, and in British Sign Language on the SignHealth website.

In response to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak, we are putting extra measures in place to protect patients, visitors and staff. Find out more about these measures and how you can support the trust during this challenging time by reading how we're keeping you safe.

We’re asking that all patients and visitors wear a face mask at all times while at one of our hospitals or a community site.
Patients and visitors are also asked to keep your distance from others at all times.
Use hand sanitiser or wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with warm water and soap as soon as you arrive. Hand sanitiser is available at all of our entrances and across buildings so that you can clean your hands more frequently.
Currently, visiting to our hospitals is still reduced. You can use our free NHS WiFi to keep in touch with family and friends by video or phone call. If you don’t have a suitable device, let us know and we will help you to make calls.

Our response to COVID-19

We know this will be a difficult time for our patients, and their families, friends and carers. We appreciate your understanding and support in helping us to protect our patients and staff.

As part of our response to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, we have made a number of important changes including:

Advice for visitors
Changes to non-emergency patient transport

Some of our services have also developed service specific advice, including:

Adult blood tests
Audiology
Bereavement
Breast screening
Children and young people's blood tests
Easy read information

Neonatal service, advice for children and advice for parents, guardians and carers

Kidney and kidney transplant
Maternity
Ophthalmology

Please check our services A-Z.

Symptoms of COVID-19 and what to do

Do not leave your home if you have either:

a high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or three or more coughing episodes in a 24 hour period (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
loss or change to your sense of smell or taste - this means you've noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal

To protect others, do not go to places like a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital. Stay at home.

For advice on the next steps please visit: www.111.nhs.uk/covid-19
If you feel you cannot cope with your symptoms at home or your condition gets worse, please visit: www.111.nhs.uk/covid-19. If you cannot get help online, please call 111.

COVID-19 information in other formats and languages
Non-English languages

Translated information on COVID-19 symptoms, testing and how to self-isolate is available on the Doctors of the World website. (Available in 60 languages)

British Sign Language

Information in British Sign Language (BSL) is available on the SignHealth website. Information covers topics such as how to contact NHS 111, using InterpreterNow – an app which supports BSL communications – when having a COVID-19 test, and health/government advice.