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

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

Every Action Counts – A Video from the NHS

(Updated 12.01.22)

In light of new national guidance and the rise in COVID-19 cases, we’ve had to make a few changes to our visiting arrangements.

At the start of the pandemic we made the very difficult decision to suspend visiting at our hospitals. This was to protect our patients and keep you as safe as possible by reducing the risk of transmission of COVID-19. This unfortunately must remain the case for now.

Compassionate Visiting on Adult Wards (Special Circumstances Only)

The most important change to adult inpatient visiting, where specifically allowed for on compassionate grounds or due to special circumstances, is that ONE visitor only is now allowed and they are required to take a Lateral Flow Test on the day of each visit prior to attending hospital and bring evidence of a negative result with them when coming in.

Children’s Ward

Compassionate visiting will continue for patients under the age of 18. One parent/carer will be allowed to be with the child. Two named guardians are permitted and these visitors can alternate. The same applies for patients under the age of 18 who are not on a paediatric ward.

Maternity

We continue to maintain the current arrangements for Women’s and Children’s – with the addition of a negative Lateral Flow Test prior to visiting. These include:

• Delivery Suite: Two birth partners can attend and will be given a visiting wristband
• Antenatal (Ward 22) and Postnatal (Ward 21): open for visiting between 9am and 8.30pm for the named support partner only. Visitors will be asked to wear a hospital-supplied surgical mask for the duration of their visit. Named visitors are being asked to test themselves for COVID-19 before visiting the hospital to ensure the safety of patients and staff. Anyone who has not self-tested will be given a lateral flow test before they enter the ward
• Antenatal and Ultrasound Appointments: one support partner is allowed 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. Both the pregnant person and support partner will need to have had a negative lateral flow test prior to the appointment and will be asked to wear a hospital-supplied surgical mask for the duration of their visit. Please be aware that children should not be brought to appointments.
• Neonatal: Two parents, or a parent and named guardian, are now 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, please speak to your midwife or care team prior to attending the hospital to discuss any requirements you may have

End of Life Care

Compassionate visiting will continue for patients considered at end of life; patients who will be given a life limiting or palliative diagnosis and those who require familiar support including patients with dementia, learning disabilities and complex needs.

Specific Needs

You will be able to 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
• Where possible, the person supporting the patient should be from the same household or social bubble as the patient

Additional Visiting Information

• Booked visiting times must be adhered to, visitors can not attend earlier or stay later then times arranged unless agreed on an individual basis
• Visitors must be able to comply with PPE and wear the appropriate face mask for the duration of the hospital visit
• A visitor should not attend if they have experienced any suspected symptoms of COVID-19, feel unwell or are isolating
• Visitors will be required to complete a Risk Assessment and a COVID-19 Test and Trace form on arrival
• Visitors are required to take an LFT test on the day of each visit prior to attending the hospital and evidence of a LFT reported via a national route (e.g. text / email confirmation) is required to be shown to a member of staff prior to entering the patient area
• Visits may be subject to change at short notice in the event of an outbreak or the patient they are visiting being confirmed as COVID-19 positive or a contact
• Visitors should limit the number of belongings they bring into hospital. Where possible removing outer clothing to roll up their sleeves and clean hands thoroughly
• If you are visiting our hospitals for any reason then please be sure to read our guidance for visitors before attending.

Thank you for your cooperation and help in this. 

Patient Property Drop Off

With visiting restrictions currently in place, it is important to keep patients connected with the people who are important to them.

We have introduced 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 will run from 9.00am to 4.00pm 7 days a week (excluding Bank Holidays) at the designated drop off areas.

These are:

• The Ward Block entrance at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, and
• 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.

Are you self-isolating or are unable to drop items off?

You can now purchase items from our League of Friends shop at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and the Friends of PRH shop at the Princess Royal Hospital, which will be delivered to your loved one. Items which can be purchased include: 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: Email: tanya.griffin@nhs.net Phone: 01952 641222 ext: 4211

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