COVID-19 Information Resources
In this section, we have links to resources regarding COVID-19 and the services at our hospitals.
- Changes to Visiting at ASPH
- COVID-19 Management and New Measures
- COVID-19 Vaccinations for Over 12s
- Entrance Checkpoint Systems
- Keeping you safe when visiting ASPH
- Wearing Face Masks in our Hospitals
- Outpatients and Imaging Appointments
- How to Use Attend Anywhere for Video Appointments
- Visiting Arrangements for Patients at the End-of-life
- Visiting Arrangements
- Bereavement Office
- Maternity and Antenatal
- Homebirth Services
- Elective Inpatients
- Emergency Inpatients and Cancer Treatment
- Supporting Recovery from COVID-19
- Donations to the Trust
- Latest NHS Information and Advice about COVID-19
- NHS App and QR Codes
- Patient Resources
- Update on Disabled Parking
Changes to Visiting at ASPH | |
We have changed our visiting restrictions at Ashford and St Peter’s hospitals so that a relative, carer or friend can visit an inpatient for 1 hour each day. To book a visit appointment visitors must call the dedicated telephone line 01932 723318 between 1000 – 1600 Monday to Friday when the line is open. If any visitors need to book a visiting slot outside of those hours, they will need to contact the relevant ward directly. Children’s wards, Maternity, A&E and ITU are managing the situation locally, so for more specific guidance, queries or information, please speak with the relevant department. Due to the national changes around testing, we are no longer asking visitors to lateral flow test before entering one of the hospital sites, but infection prevention and control measures such as temperature checks, sanitising hands, social distancing and wearing a surgical mask inside the hospitals remain in place. Andrea Lewis RRC |
COVID-19 Management and New Measures | |
We have put in place a number of measures that will enable us to prioritise how we provide care, enabling us to focus on those patients who are critically ill. These measures include:
We would like to thank the public for their support at this time, and remind people to follow the national guidance to reduce the spread of Covid-19; this will help protect our families, keep frontline services running and save lives. Click here to watch our short video explaining the new measures. For more information about Coronavirus (COVID-19), please visit the NHS website: www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19. |
Entrance Checkpoint Systems | |
Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has installed a digital checkpoint system for everyone who enters the main entrance at St Peter’s Hospital. When you enter St Peter’s Hospital through the main entrance, there is a digital checkpoint where you must undertake the following steps:
The camera will then either display a green light which means you have a face mask on and your temperature is okay after which you can then enter the site, or a red light which means you have not got a face mask on or you have a temperature. If after applying the face mask the red light still flashes this will indicate you have a temperature. If this is the case, patients should speak to the member of staff manning the checkpoint or someone on reception. If you have a temperature or any other Covid-19 symptoms, you should return home immediately and both you and your household should begin to self-isolate. You should book a Covid-19 test as soon as possible. Staff entering the site will have their own checkpoint to pass through with the same requirements as the patient checkpoint. The digital checkpoints will be clearly signposted for both staff and patients so they are aware of which queue they would need to join when entering the site. In addition to the new digital checkpoint system, a next exit route will be in place and clearly signposted by the cash point in the main entrance to allow for a socially distanced flow of patients and staff arriving and leaving through the main entrance. |
Keeping you safe when visiting ASPH | |
As we move into the next stage of the COVID-19 pandemic we are restoring and recovering our services and safety for you and our team remains our absolute priority. With this in mind we have made significant changes at our sites in line with government regulations. However we also need your support with these measures too. So please watch our short animation and read our information sheet. Thank you for your support and patience in following the guidance and helping to keep everyone safe. |
Wearing Face Masks in our Hospitals |
All patients, visitors, and staff are expected to use a new surgical mask issued by the checkpoint teams when they arrive at all hospital sites. If you are wearing your own face covering or mask you will be asked to remove this and use a new mask for the duration of your visit. The mask must cover your mouth and nose and be worn at all times, unless your clinician asks you to remove it. There are checkpoints by each entrance and you will be asked to use the hand sanitiser provided and have your temperature taken (by a forehead thermometer). On exit, please dispose of the mask in the clinical waste bin provided and sanitise your hands. It is expected that everyone on the hospital sites wears a mask with the following exceptions, in line with national guidance:
It’s #NotTooMuchToMask As a Trust, we are supporting the national #NotTooMuchToMask campaign which aims to encourage us all to continue to be cautious, despite lockdown and legal restrictions being lifted. The campaign focuses on asking everyone to continue to wear facemasks when in public, maintain good hand hygiene, keep areas well ventilated and to meet outside where possible, to undertake contract tracing and of course to take up the offer of both doses of the vaccination. Across our hospital sites, there has been no change to our current Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures or visiting restrictions. We continue to maintain best IPC practice across all areas of the hospital sites, not just wards and clinics, in line with national guidance. |
Outpatients and Imaging Appointments |
The majority of outpatient appointments will be virtual – either via telephone or video. We are in the process of moving as many appointments as possible over to a video format using a system called Attend Anywhere. You will receive a letter, phone call or text message to confirm when and how your appointment will take place. Face-to-face appointments will only take place where they deemed clinically essential and the majority, including imaging appointments, will take place at Ashford Hospital. Please watch this short animation to explain what will happen when you come for your appointment. If you have any questions about your appointment please call 01784 884351 (between 9am to 5pm). |
Visiting Arrangements for Patients at the End-of-life |
We have made some changes to the visiting arrangements for patients at the end-of-life. We are now able to accommodate one nominated visitor for up to one hour each day or two nominated visitors on alternate days during a patients stay. The patient must still be referred and reviewed by the Specialist Palliative Care Team prior to visiting, and visits must be pre-arranged each day with the ward nursing team. |
Visiting Arrangements |
Other visiting restrictions still remain in place and this is due to the risk COVID-19 continues to present within the community and our hospital and the associated threats of outbreaks with this. If you have a family member who is a patient with special circumstances – such as learning difficulties, emotional and behavioural difficulties, or dementia, who would really benefit from a visitor then please speak to the ward nursing team and they will advise further. |
Bereavement Office |
Our Bereavement team provides advice and practical help for relatives immediately after the death of a loved one. Please use the hospital switchboard (01932 872000) if the service is not available. They will be able to direct your enquiry to the appropriate person or department / ward. |
Maternity and Antenatal |
The safety of our mums and newborn babies is our highest priority. Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, as part of our Infection Prevention and Control strategy, we need to implement a strict visiting policy to help prevent transmission and safeguard those we care for. The restrictions at Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals have been implemented due to the increased incidence of COVID-19 in our local community. We appreciate your support and understanding with these measures. |
Homebirth Services | |
Our Homebirth Service is running as normal. If you are healthy, are having an uncomplicated pregnancy and live within the area where we provide a community midwifery service, you may want to consider a homebirth as an option. Homebirth has been shown to reduce the likelihood of interventions in health pregnancies. Homebirth is not an advisable option should a complication arise in your pregnancy, or if you have either a medical or obstetric history that indicates that a hospital birth is more appropriate. We aim to run a 24-hour service but very occasionally this not possible because the community midwives maybe attending another homebirth or it maybe due to staff sickness. On these very rare occasions your Midwife will keep you informed and explore other options with you. |
Elective Inpatients |
We are beginning to restart elective surgery that was reduced or suspended due to Covid-19. The majority of planned surgery will take place at Ashford Hospital but we are also utilising other hospital sites. We are working hard to prioritise patients waiting for surgery and to safely increase theatre capacity. If you have been referred to ASPH we will be in touch to arrange your appointment and explain the process you need to follow 14 days prior to surgery. |
Emergency Inpatients and Cancer Treatment |
Urgent and cancer patients are being clinically reviewed and surgery will continue (where appropriate). Diagnostic testing will continue for these patients. |
Supporting Recovery from COVID-19 |
The Therapies team at Ashford and St Peters have developed a range of resources to help you in your recovery following discharge from hospital with COVID-19. Each patients recovery journey will be different, but you may experience feelings of fatigue, shortness of breath, reduced tolerance for exercise, loss of appetite, difficulties with eating and drinking or voice issues. The guidance provided is based on general rehabilitation strategies and should not replace any individual advice you have been given. |
Donations to the Trust |
In these worrying times, the generosity of people and businesses from our community has been truly amazing. We are so grateful for all of the contributions and donations that have been made to support our staff. We are making arrangements to ensure these donations reach the team and vulnerable members of our community; so that you can be sure your generosity is really being put to good use. We don’t want anyone to put themselves at risk in order to support us, so here are a few pointers if you want to help ... find out more. |
Latest NHS Information and Advice about COVID-19 |
You can access all the latest information on symptoms, testing and tracing, self-isolation, treatment and social distancing on the NHS website. You should use the 111 online coronavirus service if you have any of the following symptoms:
111 will tell you what to do and help you get a test if you need one. Stay at home and do not go to places like a GP surgery, hospital or pharmacy. If you cannot get help online then call 111.
If you are worried about a child: Call 111 if you are worried about a baby or child under 5. If your child seems very unwell, is getting worse or you think there’s something seriously wrong, call 999. You can access more advice about coronavirus in children here. |
NHS App and QR Codes |
We encourage all patients and visitors over the age of 16 who live in England or Wales to download and use the NHS Covid-19 tracing app. It’s the fastest way of knowing when you’re at risk from coronavirus. The quicker you know, the quicker you can alert your loved ones, and your community. There is no need to change any of the settings on the app when you enter the hospital sites. We have placed a number of posters with QR codes in specific areas of the Trust. Where you see these posters please use the ‘Venue Check-in’ function of the app and scan the bar code. For more information please visit www.covid19.nhs.uk. Thank you for your support. |
Patient Resources |
COVID-19 is a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways. It's caused by a virus called coronavirus. For all the latest information including the risk of COVID-19 in the UK, advice for travelers, symptoms of Coronavirus, how it is spread and advice around public places and self-isolation visit the NHS website. In this section:
When to self-isolateSelf-isolate if:
There is separate advice if you're told by NHS Test and Trace that you've been in contact with a person with coronavirus available here. For information about self-isolating when you travel or return to the UK, see GOV.UK: how to self-isolate when you travel to the UK.
How to self-isolateDon't
How long to self-isolateIf you have symptoms of coronavirus, you'll usually need to self-isolate for at least 7 days. If you live with someone who has symptoms, you'll usually need to self-isolate for 14 days. Read more about how long to self-isolate.
How to avoid spreading the infectionIt's very important to do what you can to reduce the risk of you and other people getting ill with coronavirus. You can spread the virus even if you do not have symptoms.
Do
Don't
Advice for people at high riskAll the latest information and advice for people at higher risk from coronavirus can be found here.
Pregnancy adviceIf you're pregnant and worried about coronavirus, you can get advice about coronavirus and pregnancy from the Royal College of Obstretricians and Gynaecologists.
|
Update on Disabled Parking |
The disabled car park is still open at St Peter’s Hospital but the nearest entrance to the hospital is temporarily closed. This is due to new processes for infection control screening, and in particular, so they, like other visitors to the Trust can be given a surgical mask, have a temperature check and sanitise their hands at a central access point. Disabled persons are kindly asked to enter via the Duchess of Kent or front entrance at St Peter’s Hospital. If a disabled person or their carer needs assistance to get to the entrances, please phone the porters directly via 01932 722036. There will be signs in the car park to also assist visiting. |
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.