Covid-19

Covid-19 Guidance

Take a test if you have ANY of the symptoms associated with Covid-19

A high temperature
A new, continuous cough
A loss of, or change to, your sense of smell or taste

The Government has removed remaining domestic restrictions in England. However, there are still steps you can take to reduce the risk of catching and spreading COVID-19:

Get vaccinated
Let fresh air in if meeting indoors, or meet outside
Consider wearing a face covering in crowded, enclosed spaces.

When to get a test

If you or your child have symptoms, take a test as soon as possible. You can order lateral flow tests to be sent to your home from the Government website.

If your symptoms are serious, or get worse, NHS 111 has an online coronavirus service that can tell you if you need further medical help and advise you what to do.

For the most up to date advice about Covid-19 please visit the government website.

Download the following information leaflets for advice on looking after yourself if you are self-isolating or have Covid-19

Information for people at higher risk from Covid-19

Information for people at higher risk from Covid-19

Covid-19 can make anyone seriously ill. But for some people, the risk is higher.

There are 2 levels of higher risk below:

high risk (clinically extremely vulnerable)
moderate risk (clinically vulnerable)

The list on the NHS website explains who might be classed as high and moderate risk.

Information for patients

It is no longer a requirement to wear a face covering when you come to hospital as a visitor or outpatient. You can still wear a face mask if you wish to.

If you’re attending one of our hospitals for an outpatient appointment, to visit a loved one or to attend one of our emergency departments, you are not required to wear a face mask in waiting areas and clinical areas.

Facemasks are required for:

Patients with a suspected or confirmed respiratory infection when out of their bed area where clinically safe and tolerated.
Patients who choose to continue to wear a mask for their own protection will be supported.
Visitors are required to wear a facemask when visiting patients with a suspected or confirmed respiratory infection.

Please help to keep our patients safe by not coming in to our hospitals if you have any Covid-19 or flu like symptoms. If you are experiencing these symptoms and need to attend one of our hospitals in an emergency situation, we would advise you to wear a face mask.

Covid-19 and influenza patient testing

To protect colleagues, patients and our loves ones, it’s important we protect ourselves this winter. This section highlights some of the ways our hospitals do this:

All elective and unplanned emergency admissions, including maternity and paediatric patients, with symptoms of a respiratory virus must be tested on admission.
Inpatients with symptoms of a respiratory virus must have a PCR test.
Patients being discharged to community care facilities must have a single rapid lateral flow test (LFD test) within 48 hours of discharge.
Outbreak testing: symptomatic patients should have a PCR test, patients exposed to positive patients within the bay - Lumira DX^TM point of care test.
Elective surgery: immunocompromised patients/patients deemed high risk by the clinical team should have a LFD test at home prior to surgery or where not possible to be completed on the day of surgery.
Planned admissions: should have a single PCR 72 hours pre-admission.
Acute Respiratory Care Unit and Intensive Care Unit: PCR test to support stepdown of COVID-19 patients who are clinically difficult to assess.