Information for the public
Please use the links below to find out more:
Important Information
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. There some exceptions to this, please see our news item for more details.
- If you are attending our hospitals for any reason then please be sure to read our guidance for visitors before attending. Key points include:
- Outpatients and visitors must wear face masks when in one of our hospitals. These will be provided upon entering. Please note: if you have a known latex allergy please ensure you bring a face covering with you.
- 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. More information from NHSX is available here
Coronavirus Health information
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.
Managing Recovery
NHS: Your COVID Recovery
Chartered Society of Physio Therapy: COVID-19 Road to Recovery
Animated YouTube Video
Asthma UK and the British Lung Foundation
After Being in a Healthcare Setting
After being discharged from A&E or a GP consultation: Coronavirus Information
After being discharged from a hospital stay: Coronavirus Information
Coronavirus Testing Information
What to do if you think you have coronavirus
If you have any of the following symptoms, you must get a test and self-isolate:
- a high temperature – you feel hot to touch on your chest or back
- a new, continuous cough – this means you’ve started coughing repeatedly
- a 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
You should not go to your GP, pharmacy or hospital. 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. You can also call NHS 111 direct.
Where can I go for testing?
If you have coronavirus symptoms, you should get tested. All testing sites operate on an appointment only basis – please do not attend without an appointment. Appointments can be booked via the NHS online booking system or by calling 119.
When booking, you will be shown a list of the nearest places to go for your test. You will need to get a test done within 8 days of developing symptoms. On days 1-7, you can get tested at a site or at home. If you’re ordering a home test kit on day 7, please do this by 3pm. On day 8, you will need to go to a test site.
Some useful links:
Coronavirus Vaccination Information
Following extensive trials, two safe and effective vaccines for coronavirus (COVID-19) are now approved for use in the UK.
The NHS vaccination programme is underway in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin as part of the national roll out.
The coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine is our best defence against the virus.
When it is your turn to be vaccinated, the NHS will contact you. Please do not contact the NHS.
We understand a lot of people want to be vaccinated and we would like to reassure you this will happen. Please be patient and wait to be contacted. For further information on why you are being asked to wait for your COVID-19 vaccine, please read the information on the GOV.UK website or this leaflet.
The NHS is currently offering the COVID-19 vaccine to people most at risk from coronavirus. The NHS will contact people in the priority groups when it is their turn to receive the vaccine. People are being called forward who meet the criteria based on the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation’s recommendations.
The priority groups identified by the Joint Committee of Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) are:
- Residents in a care home for older adults, and their carers
- Over 80s, frontline health and care staff
- Over 75s
- Over 70s, and clinically extremely vulnerable individuals
- Over 65s
- Under 65s with underlying health conditions
- Over 60s
- Over 55s
- Over 50s
It is anticipated that the top four priority groups including older care home residents and staff, everyone over 70, all frontline NHS and care staff and all those who are clinically extremely vulnerable will be vaccinated by the middle of February.
It’s important to be aware that vaccine stocks are available through a carefully managed national route and those at most risk are being prioritised.
In Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin you will be invited to attend a vaccination appointment at a local GP service, a local hospital service, a local pharmacy or at a large vaccination centre. This means when it is your turn to be vaccinated, this may not be at your GP practice. You will be told where to go for your appointment and how to book.
Vaccination started in the county in mid-December and a list of COVID-19 vaccination centres are detailed below, and are also available to view on NHS England’s website:
Hospital Hubs:
- Hospital Hub at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital run in partnership with Shrewsbury Primary Care Network
- Hospital Hub at The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital run in partnership with North Shropshire Primary Care Network
- Hospital Hub at Princess Royal Hospital run by Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) (for frontline health and care staff only)
Local GP Services:
- Local Vaccination Centre at Bridgnorth Medical Centre being delivered by GPs from the South East Shropshire Primary Care Network (group of local GP practices)
- Local Vaccination Centre at Malinslee Healthcare Centre being delivered by GPs from the Teldoc Primary Care Network (group of local GP practices)
Local Pharmacy Service:
- Woodside Pharmacy, Telford
Those residents that live within 45 minutes of a large vaccination centre (such as Millennium Point in Birmingham), and haven’t already been vaccinated, may receive a letter asking to book an appointment online or you can call the freephone number contained in the letter.
If you can’t travel to a vaccination centre, or there is another reason you can’t book an appointment at the nearest vaccination centre, you can choose to wait until your local GP services contact you if they haven’t already. If this is your preferred option – you don’t need to do anything now – wait for your GP service to make contact. Or, wait until a more local large vaccination centre becomes available in the coming weeks.
Care Homes
Care home residents are also now receiving the vaccine in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin with the ambition that all older person care home residents and staff will have had the vaccination by the end of January. GP practices will contact care homes directly to plan the rollout as soon as they are ready.
We are working extremely hard to ensure that care home residents and staff receive the vaccine in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin as quickly as possible. All of our Primary Care Networks (groups of GP practices) are now actively vaccinating residents and staff in care homes across the county and care home staff are also being invited to attend our vaccine centres.
Future local vaccination services
The vaccine will be offered to more people and at other locations as soon as possible. These will include local vaccine services provided by GPs and pharmacists, in people’s homes for those who are housebound and new dedicated vaccination centres to make sure that everyone who needs a vaccine is able to get one.
We know lots of people will be eager to get protected but you will be invited for a vaccine when it’s your turn so you do not need to contact your practice or the NHS.
In Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin you will be invited to attend an appointment at your GP surgery, a Vaccination Centre, or in some cases, a Hospital Hub.
All vaccinations are by appointment only. People who are eligible for appointments will receive letters from the NHS COVID-19 Vaccination Booking Service, telling you how to book an appointment. You may also be contacted by your local GP practice. Please do not contact your GP practice or local hospital if you haven’t received an invite yet.
If you have been sent an invitation letter, please bring this with you as we will need your NHS number in order to update your record. Please note, some GP practices may not send a letter.
If you are a frontline worker, please bring your staff identification.
You are asked to attend your appointment alone unless you require a nominated carer for medical reasons. Please do not bring any other family members or friends as they will not be offered the vaccine or be able to wait in the centre.
Please be aware people who turn up at vaccination services without an appointment, who are not identified in the four top priority groups and do not have a letter or staff identification will be turned away.
Although we have measures in place to keep you and our staff safe, please wear a face covering when attending your appointment. It is also advisable to wear loose clothing as the vaccination is given in your upper arm.
Please remember:
- Please don’t contact the NHS to seek a vaccine – we will contact you
- When we do contact you, please attend your booked appointments. Help us by arriving promptly at your appointment time, observing the social distancing rules in place and having your email / mobile number to hand.
- Please continue to follow all the guidelines – hand hygiene and social distancing in particular – to control the virus and save lives.
The vaccine
- The vaccine is given in two doses. If you have had your first jab, you will be contacted about getting your second. Appointments will be held 12 weeks apart, based on updated guidance from the UK’s Chief Medical Officers.
- The vaccine cannot give you COVID-19 infection, and it will reduce your chance of becoming seriously ill. We do not yet know whether it will stop you from catching and passing on the virus. So, it is important to follow the guidance in your local area to protect those around you.
Whether or not you have had the vaccine, it’s still important to follow social distancing guidance and other restrictions to keep each other safe.
- Who can have it: first phase priority groups
- Why do I have to wait
- Covid-19 vaccination – a guide for older adults
- What to expect after your Covid-19 vaccination
- COVID-19 vaccination – a guide for those currently pregnant, planning a pregnancy or breastfeeding
- A guide for healthcare workers
- A guide for social care workers
Accessible versions:
For more information about the vaccine, the Government has provided thorough descriptions of each vaccine and how they work:
- Information for UK recipients on Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine
- Information for UK recipients on Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine
You can also visit www.nhs.uk/CovidVaccine.
Read the latest Frequently Asked Questions.
- Large NHS vaccination centres rolled out and more on their way
- New covid vaccination hospital hub opens at RJAH
- Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin COVID-19 vaccine rollout: Please wait to be contacted
- First care home residents in Telford and Wrekin get COVID-19 vaccination
- Be a part of history and help in the battle to beat COVID-19
- Shropshire patients get the COVID-19 vaccination closer to home
- Rollout of COVID-19 vaccination gets underway
Help and Support
- NHS Every Mind Matters: Staying at home tips
- NHS Every Mind Matters: Anxiety Tips
- Young Minds: Looking after your mental health while self isolating
- NHS Mental Health Helplines
- Samaritans – visit their website or call for free on 116 123. You can also email Jo@samaritans.org or write to Freepost RSRB-KKBY-CYJK, PO Box 9090, STIRLING, FK8 2SA.
- Anxiety UK – visit their website or call 03444 775 774 (Mon-Fri, 9.30am 5.30pm)
- OCD Action – visit their website or call 0845 390 6232 (Mon-Fri, 9.30am – 5pm)
- Shropshire Council Emergency Duty Team: 0345 678 9040
- Shropshire Council website: a dedicated area for mental health with helpful links to local services and further sources of information
Shropshire Mind: Free anxiety, stress and wellbeing sessions workshops, delivered by Shropshire MIND using the Zoom video conference app. The sessions are open to everyone in a light and non-pressured way, allowing you to participate as much or as little as you want, and to focus on how we manage stress, understanding mental health and how to focus on our own personal wellbeing. Sessions are being hosted three days a week on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 3pm-4pm, and Thursdays 4pm-5pm. Click here to join the meeting. Meeting ID: 850 4372 1339 Password: 799957
e-library and audio books
- Calibre Audio is a charity which lend free audiobooks for anyone who is print disabled
- You can join an online library to access e-books, magazines and audiobooks: Shropshire e-Library
- Shropshire Recovery Partnership – visit their website or call 01743 294700
- National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD)
- Telford Stars: Support for those affected by drugs and alcohol in Telford & Wrekin
- Aquarius: Local support for all ages affected by alcohol, drugs and gambling
- Debt Support Trust – visit their website or call 0800 085 0226 (8am – 7pm Monday – Friday)
- The Money Advice Service – you can launch a webchat online or ring 0800 138 7777 (Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm. Saturday, 9am – 1pm)
- Consumer Credit Counselling service (CCCS) – 0800 138111 (Monday- Friday 8am-8pm)
- Shropshire Council
- Children eligible for free school meals in year 3 and above can receive support through a weekly shopping voucher worth £15 to help parents provide additional meals whilst schools are closed:
- Free School Meal Scheme
- Citizens Advice: check that you are claiming benefits to access support during Covid-19
- Government Advice if you are struggling to pay your rent
- Gingerbread.org: Managing money and debt
- Marie Curie – information and advice on benefits and finances when someone dies
Telford & Wrekin
Shropshire
Powys
Young Carers
- Health for Kids
- Health for teens:
- LGBT+ children and young people support
- Resources for parents during coronavirus:
Helpful information to answer questions from children:
- Place 2 Be
- Youngminds Parent’s Helpline visit their website or call 0808 802 5544 (9.30am-4pm weekdays)
- CONTACT – Support for families with disabled children
- Childline has a calm zone: calming activities, games and videos
- CBeebies: a range of resources for children with additional needs
- National Autistic Society: Tips for Adults | Tips for Families
- Podcast to help parents with autistic children
- “Covibook” – Explaining Coronavirus to very young children
Advice for Families on Co-Parenting
- Gingerbread
- Guidance on Compliance with Family Court Child Arrangement Orders
- Cafcass Guidance For Children and Families
Maintaining relationships
Information for Children and Young People
Exercises for People with Disabilities:
- If you feel isolated and need someone to talk to or need practical help: Campaign to End Loneliness
- Age UK have a 24 hour chat line: 0800 4708090
- Age Cymru is offering a check in and chat telephone service for the over 70s in Wales who live alone: 0800 223 444 or online.
Measures announced to help limit the spread of Coronavirus include people staying at home wherever possible. However, there are some circumstances in which help and support may be needed. No matter what the circumstances are, there is never an excuse for domestic abuse.
- GOV.UK – the Government supports and funds several charities that can help.
- Childline – you can visit their website for 1-2-1 chat with a Counsellor or call 0800 1111 (their number wont show up on our phone bill)
- Axis Counselling Service – Shrewsbury – call 01743 357777; Telford – Call 01952 278000
- England Women’s Aid – visit their website or call free 0808 2000 247 (24 hours). You can also email helpline@womensaid.org.uk which will be responded to within 5 working days.
- Rape Crisis England and Wales – visit their website or call their Freephone on 0808 802 9999 (every day 12 noon – 2.30pm and 7pm -9.30pm)
- Men’s advice helpline – visit their website or call their Freephone on 0808 801 0327 (Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm). You can also email them on info@respectphoneline.org.uk.
- If you need help with shopping or other errands and don’t know who to ask for help Age UK have an advice line open 8am to 7pm: 0800 6781602
- Shropshire Council : Sources of Support
- Telford & Wrekin Council: Food Parcels, Food Shopping and Meals
- Covid Mutual Aid: Access local support within your community here
- Support for those Self-Isolating
Staying in touch
Whilst it is a difficult time due to coronavirus and there are restrictions in place which prevent you from seeing family and friends who may be receiving treatment and care within the hospital, there are ways you can stay in touch or let them know that you are thinking of them.
Telephone or Video Call
There is free NHS WiFi available across the Trust. If the person you care about is in hospital and they have a mobile phone or tablet with them then you can contact them by telephone or video call. Another option is to record a message for them which they can listen to or watch.
Send a Message
Do you have a loved one staying in one of our hospitals? You can now brighten their day by sending them a message that will be safely printed and delivered to them! For more information and to send your message please visit the Send Your Message page.
If someone you care about is being treated for coronavirus then you can send them a comfort pebble to let them know that you are thinking of them. Comfort pebbles have been introduced to enable the person you care for to have something that they can hold and keep close to them as a reminder of their family and friends who are thinking of them. CLICK HERE TO SEND A PEBBLE.
Video Call
Links for how to stay in touch using:
WhatsApp:
If you can’t find the resources you are looking for they may be available through Health Education England, information is frequently added from trusted sources and has sections tailored for children and young people, older people, people who require information in accessible formats: https://library.nhs.uk/coronavirus-resources/
Healthwatch Shropshire wants to know how the current pandemic is affecting people in Shropshire, their well-being, how they are finding useful information, how they are being supported, what helps them cope and how their experience of health and social care has been affected. You can read more and take the survey on the Healthwatch Website.
National Voices is a group of over 150 charities supporting people with physical and mental health problems and disability. They are collecting feedback of peoples personal experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK. If you would like to share your experience anonymously please visit their webpage ourcovidvoices.co.uk
Changes to visiting
We have taken the difficult decision to suspend visiting at our hospitals. There are some exceptions to this – which you can read about in our news item.
If you are visiting our hospitals for any reason then please be sure to read our guidance for visitors before attending. Key points include:
- Outpatients and visitors must wear face masks when in one of our hospitals. These will be provided upon entering. Please note: if you have a known latex allergy please ensure you bring a face covering with you.
- Closing some of our public entrances to our hospitals (note: staff are still able to get through with access codes)
Changes to parking
Car parking charges for visitors and patients have now been re-introduced at Shropshire’s acute hospitals following the end of Government financial support for the income lost. More information about parking charges is available here
Information for pregnant women
Information for pregnant women, including frequently asked questions, is available on our maternity services page.
Information in other formats & languages
Signal: local help and support
Advice in BSL: Daily updates provided by the Deaf Health Charity Signhealth
NHS 111 Symptom Checker with British Sign Language Interpretation
- Advice in different languages
- Videos in different languages
- My Hero is You: Storybook for Children aimed to help the understand and come to terms with COVID-19 which has been translated into over 80 languages
- Doctors of the World and the British Red Cross have developed Coronavirus guidance in a range of 60 languages
Every Mind Matters, top ten tips:
Bengali
Gujarati
Polish
Punjabi
Romani
Romanian
Russian
Somali
Urdu
Please see our Easy Read Patient Information page.
Books beyond words are books with no text – they have no language barrier, and can be easier to understand. The books can be used by the images alone or through looking at the images with someone who shares the story with you. The books help the person to tell the story in their own words and start discussion on what is seen.
Want to Help?
An incredible amount of people have messaged us with kind offers of support, including food, accommodation and donations. This support is invaluable to us. If you think you can help, then please email us at we.supportsath@nhs.net – please include details and any contact information and a member of the team will get back to you.
PPE
If you/your company would like to donate or help with PPE then please visit our dedicated PPE Page.
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