We have put temporary measures in place to ensure the safety of all patients and NHS staff. These include

• Taking the difficult decision to suspend visiting at our hospitals. Exceptions to this rule are the Children’s Ward, Maternity, the Neonatal Unit and Patients receiving end of life care. You can read more about this in our news item or view our poster.
• Car Parking charges are currently suspended for patients and staff
• Closing some of our public entrances to our hospitals (note: staff are still able to get through with access codes)
• We have created a supplementary coronavirus Privacy Notice to explain how we may use your information during the outbreak to protect you and others

Please use the NHS website for general health information about coronavirus and when to seek medical help.

Do not leave your home if you have coronavirus symptoms

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 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
• a loss of, or change in, your normal sense of smell or taste (anosmia)

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

Use the 111 online coronavirus service to find out what to do.

Who can get tested?

Testing for coronavirus (Covid-19) has been expanded to everyone over the age of five with symptoms. People can ask for a test if they, or a member of their household, have the recent onset of any of the following symptoms:

• a new continuous cough
• a high temperature
• a loss of, or change in, your normal sense of smell or taste (anosmia)

The test needs to be done in the first 5 days of having symptoms (it is better to apply for a test in the first 3 days if possible).

Members of the public (who are not essential workers) who have symptoms of coronavirus should use the national booking system by visiting the NHS Website. Those who do not have any access to the internet, or who have difficulty with the digital portals, are able to ring a new 119 service to book their test.

People experiencing any of the above symptoms and their household members should self-isolate immediately. If you need medical advice about your symptoms use NHS 111 online or call NHS 111.

Testing for Essential Workers

Essential Workers, and members of their household, who have symptoms can use the dedicated local arrangement (by speaking to their employer) or should register for a test through the Self-Referral and Employer Portals on gov.uk.

Care Homes in England can continue to register for delivery of tests for all their staff and residents, whether or not they have symptoms. Visit the GOV.uk Website for more info.

How to get tested in Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin

Testing can either be done at home by applying for a home testing kit or by registering for an appointment at a drive-through testing centre.

Testing is provided at drive-through testing centres, currently by appointment only, and the correct booking procedures must be followed in order to avoid being turned away.

In Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin this may be at a Mobile Testing Unit based in a temporary location in Shropshire, or further afield, at a regionally based drive-through testing centre.

The test itself involves taking a swab of the inside of the nose and the back of the throat, using a long cotton bud. This can be done by the person themselves or by someone else. Results of the test and subsequent advice will be provided.

NHS Test and Trace programme

The new NHS Test and Trace launched on 28 May 2020.

Anyone who tests positive for coronavirus will be contacted by the service and will need to share information about their recent interactions. This could include household members, people with whom they have been in direct contact, or within 2 metres for more than 15 minutes.

People identified as having been in close contact with someone who has a positive test must stay at home for 14 days, even if they do not have symptoms, to stop unknowingly spreading the virus.

For more information click here.

Antibody testing

There are now two types of coronavirus test:

• A swab test (antigen test or PCR test): to test if you currently have coronavirus
• An antibody test: to see if you have previously had it

To find out more read this handy guide to the different type of tests.

An antibody test can tell you whether you have had coronavirus or not, but not about any level of protection or immunity from getting the virus again. If you have a positive result, it does not mean that you are immune from getting the virus again, so social distancing measures must still be followed. It will give scientists and the government a better understanding of the spread of the virus.

The antibody test involves a blood test which is taken by a medical professional.

Across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, antibody testing is being introduced in a phased approach, starting with NHS and care home staff and inpatients. The initial number of tests available will be limited but this will be increased in the coming weeks, at which point the test will be offered to more people.

Antibody testing is currently not available from your local GP. However, clinicians will also be able to request the tests for patients in both hospital and social care settings if they think it’s appropriate.

While the results of an antibody test will not allow people to make any changes to their behaviour, such as easing social distancing measures, there’s clear value in knowing whether NHS and care workers and hospital patients and care home residents have had the virus, and in collecting data on the test results.

Click here for more information about the government’s coronavirus antibody testing programme.

We have taken the difficult decision to suspend visiting at our hospitals. Exceptions to this rule are the Children’s Ward, Maternity, the Neonatal Unit, vulnerable patients and patients receiving end of life care. You can read more about this in our news item.

All car parking charges are currently suspended for all patients and staff

In line with well-established plans for situations like this, every hospital in England has now been asked to suspend all non-urgent elective operations for at least three months, with some other procedures likely to be rescheduled before then so we can train our staff and adapt certain areas.

Urgent and emergency cases and cancer treatments will be carrying on as normal, but we know many people waiting for treatment will be disappointed or worried, and we will be contacting everyone affected as soon as possible.

If you have an appointment, please assume this is still going ahead unless you have been contacted by the team. If you have any queries about attending your appointment please contact us through the number on your appointment letter. When attending an appointment, please make sure you regularly use the hand gel provided in the corridors and waiting areas and please respect social distancing rules wherever you are able to.