Information for the public
Please use the links below to find out more:
Coronavirus Health information
Please use the NHS website for general health information about coronavirus and when to seek medical help.
To protect others, do not go to places like a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital if you have coronavirus symptoms.
Please 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
Every Action Counts – A Video from the NHS
Coronavirus Vaccination Information
For specific information about the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme, your eligibility for the vaccine, details of local walk-in vaccination clinics and other details please visit the Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin ICS website.
You can also visit the UK Government website for the latest information about the Coronavirus Vaccine.
Visiting patients
(Updated 4 January 2023)
Patients are allowed two visitors at any one time between the times of 11.30am – 8pm. However, visitors MUST confirm their visit with the ward beforehand as all visiting arrangements are kept under constant review in line with national guidelines and are subject to change at short notice. See our Ward Directory for contact information.
Please note that for patients coming in for planned surgery at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, unfortunately there is no space to accommodate visitors.
Visitors can stay with the patient for longer than one hour, and leave and return within the visiting times if they wish to (mealtimes remains protected).
Children and young people under 16 will be permitted to visit with an adult visitor. Young people over 16 will be treated as an adult visitor.
There will continue to be additional flexibility and support for compassionate visiting (special circumstances) and for those patients with specific needs. There are also separate visiting arrangements for Children’s Wards and Maternity which are all detailed below.
Visitors must wear a hospital-supplied Type IIR surgical mask at all times and are encouraged to take an LFT at home beforehand. Please DO NOT attend our hospitals if you are COVID-19 positive, are showing relevant symptoms, feel unwell, or are isolating.
Please be aware that visitors may be asked to leave the patient’s bedside temporarily whilst clinical duties and handovers are undertaken.
We recognise the real impacts the visiting restrictions have had on people, and we thank our communities for their patience and understanding during this time.
Compassionate Visiting (Special Circumstances)
Additional visiting may be permitted in exceptional circumstances such as:
- When a patient is considered at End of Life
- When a patient is given a life limiting or palliative diagnosis
- When a patient requires familiar support with communication, dietary or mental health needs including, but not restricted to, patients with Learning Disabilities, Dementia, Delirium with agitation, complex long-term health needs, or severe emotional distress
Compassionate visiting arrangements can be discussed with the Ward Manager or nurse in charge.
Children’s Ward
Compassionate visiting will continue for patients under the age of 18. Two visitors are permitted, with one parent/guardian able to stay overnight. Children on an adult ward can also have two visitors during visiting hours and one parent/guardian can remain with them outside of these hours.
Maternity
Delivery Suite: Two birth partners can attend.
Triage:One support partner can accompany each woman when they are being assessed in Triage. On arrival an initial assessment will take place which partners can be present for and if you need immediate care then your partner can stay with you while you are on the ward. If you are required to wait for further review or follow up, a pager will be issued to allow your partner and/or yourself to wait outside of triage due to capacity in the waiting area. When you return for further observations, your partner will be able to attend with you.
Antenatal (Ward 22): One support partner is able to visit between 9am – 8.30pm. An additional adult visitor is able to attend between 2-5 pm and 6.30-8pm. Maximum of two visitors at the bedside at any one time.
Postnatal (Ward 21): One support partner and siblings are able to visit between 9am – 8.30pm. An additional adult visitor is able to attend between 2-5 pm and 6.30-8pm. Maximum of two adult visitors, plus siblings, at the bedside at any one time.
Antenatal and Ultrasound Appointments: One support partner is able to accompany each woman to their booking appointment (at around 12 weeks), 16 weeks, 25 weeks, 28 weeks, 31 weeks, 34 weeks, 36 weeks, 38 weeks, 40 weeks and 41 weeks. Please be aware that children should not be brought to appointments
Neonatal: Two parents, or a parent and named guardian, are able to visit the unit together and have access to the unit at any time, day or night
We understand that there may be exceptional circumstances in some cases, so please speak to your midwife or care team prior to attending the hospital to discuss any requirements you may have.
Emergency Departments
Patients attending the Emergency Department, Surgical Assessment Unit or Medical Assessment Unit can be accompanied by two nominated people. The people supporting the patient should remain consistent and not change. Additional support may be permitted in exceptional circumstances.
Outpatient and Diagnostic areas
Patients attending outpatient appointments can be accompanied by a nominated person to support them.
Speciality areas
Compassionate visiting remains in place for people attending Day Case Units and Departments, examples of areas this applies to are Endoscopy, Chemotherapy Unit, Renal Unit, and the Haematology Unit.
Specific Needs
You can accompany someone into our hospitals if you are:
- Supporting them and the patient has a mental health issue such as dementia; a learning disability or autism where not being present would cause the patient to be distressed
- A carer for a vulnerable patient, or interpreter
- Supporting them at an outpatient appointment where they may become distressed
Thank you for your cooperation and help in this.
Stay in touch with patients
Please remember there are a range of options to keep in touch with patients whilst they are in hospital:
- Our Chaplaincy Team are on hand to offer support
- Patients can access ward iPads/mobile phones if they do not have their own
- You can send a patient a message by clicking here
- Items can be purchased over the phone from our League of Friends shops and then delivered to your loved one. Royal Shrewsbury Hospital: 01743 261008 / Princess Royal Hospital: 01952 641222
Dropping off items for patients
With some visiting restrictions still in place, it is important to keep patients connected with the people who are important to them.
We have a patient property drop off service to enable relatives/friends to drop off essential items and collect any items the patient wishes to send home. Only one relative or friend should come on to the site to bring the bag.
The service runs from 9am – 4pm, 7 days a week (excluding Bank Holidays) at the designated drop off areas. These are:
- The Ward Block entrance at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital
- The Main Entrance at the Princess Royal Hospital.
Please click here to access the site map.
Important information:
Only 1 bag of essential belongings can be dropped off. The bag should be wipeable and no bigger than approximately 60cm x 60cm.
The bag must be labelled with the following information:
- Patient’s name and date of birth (if known),
- The ward the patient is on, and
- The name and telephone number of the person dropping the bag off.
You will be asked to show your ID when you arrive to confirm your identity.
You will also be asked to fill in a form to confirm the items which have been dropped off/collected.
What to Bring: | What not to bring: |
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Unable to drop items off?
For people unable to access the drop off and collection service due to distance or self-isolation, the League of Friends shop at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and the Friends of PRH shop at the Princess Royal Hospital will deliver items to loved ones.
Purchases such as: newspapers (to help keep in touch with the outside world), toiletries, magazines, cards, and small items of food that do not need to go in the fridge (e.g. biscuits). Purchases are subject to a £5 minimum and your card details will be taken over the phone
Royal Shrewsbury Hospital: Email: lee.herkes@nhs.net Phone: 01743 261008
Princess Royal Hospital: 01952 641222 ext: 4211
Changes to parking
Car parking charges for visitors and patients have now been re-introduced at our hospitals. 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.
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 03006365478 (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 Comfort Pebble
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.
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.
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.
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
COVID-19 vaccination: what to expect after vaccination in BSL
COVID-19 Phase2 vaccination guide
Guide for if your NHS COVID-19 post-vaccination letter has not arrived
- 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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