Last updated on June 18th, 2021 at 01:16 pm
Today’s update is below:
- Visiting and the wearing of PPE
- Repeat testing of patients who have a negative admission screen
Visiting and the wearing of PPE
Visiting continues to be suspended at all our hospitals to keep our patients, visitors and staff safe, with the following exceptions only:
ONE visitor is permitted as an exception when:
• Visiting a patient receiving end of life care – only in exceptional circumstances should more than one person be allowed onto the ward at any one time
ONE visitor is also permitted for:
• A parent / responsible adult visiting a child
• Supporting a patient with mental health or learning disabilities
• A birthing partner accompanying a woman in labour
All visitors must be agreed with the nurse / midwife in charge of the ward / department.
No other visitors are permitted to visit any other ward/department at any time.
People who have symptoms of COVID and/or those who are in self-isolation must not visit patients in hospital.
Visitors of COVID negative patients
Please note that those visitors who are allowed to visit patients who are COVID negative are only required to wear a surgical mask. They do not need to wear full PPE (gloves, apron, surgical mask and eye protection) unless they are providing personal care.
They must be instructed not to go within two metres of any other patient if they are in a bay. They must be made aware that if a patient subsequently tests positive in a bay area that they have spent considerable time in, that they will have to self- isolate for 14 days in line with test and trace. Visitors must not be present when the patient is having an aerosol generating procedure. https://covid.sthk.nhs.uk/aerosol-generating-procedures/ (password: STHKcovid19)
Visitors of COVID positive patients
Visitors who meet the exemption criteria to see patients who are COVID positive must be advised of the risks in advance and of the need to wear full PPE (gloves, apron, surgical mask and eye protection). Visitors are not permitted to be with a COVID positive patient whilst an aerosol generating procedure is being carried out on the patient.
They must be supervised by staff when donning and doffing PPE and instructed that this must remain in place throughout the visit, to ensure that there are no breaches of the required standard. If there are any breaches to the correct donning/doffing and wearing of PPE the visitor will need to go into full self-isolation for 14 days.
Confirmation that there have been no breaches in the procedure will need to be given by the supervising staff. The visitor will not need to self-isolate if the staff confirm there have been no breaches.
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Repeat testing of patients who have a negative admission screen
Any inpatients who test negative for COVID on their admission screen must be retested 5 days after admission. The repeat screens should then be continued every 5 days until discharge unless the patient is found to be positive.
This is important in identifying cases in a timely manner and reducing the risk of COVID transmission within the Trust.