I am really pleased to see that in-patient visiting has returned to our hospitals as my colleagues and I know how important it is to patients, and their family and friends to see their loved ones.
Adult in-patients are now allowed one visitor for one hour per day between the times of 11.30am and 8pm at our hospitals. We continue to provide the additional flexibility and support needed for compassionate visiting. Separate arrangements also remain in place for Critical Care, Maternity, Children’s wards, and the Neonatal Unit.
However, here at the Trust, we have had to balance the importance of patients seeing their loved ones with the high levels of COVID-19 in our communities and hospitals. Therefore, we are asking for your ongoing help in protecting those we are caring for.
We are asking visitors to follow some key requirements, including wearing face masks and observing social distancing when in the hospitals to help restrict the spread of the virus. They are also encouraged to take a LFT at home beforehand.
We would ask visitors to abide by these rules and recognise that we will give additional flexibility in certain circumstances, but this should always be agreed with ward staff beforehand.
You are also asked to bear in mind that visiting does not apply across all areas of the Trust and in areas where patients with COVID-19 are being treated visiting restrictions will be put in place. Thank you all for your support as we continue to care for some of the most vulnerable in society.
Our Maternity team and the Maternity Voices Partnership Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin are inviting colleagues at SaTH, former and current service users, support partners and families to complete User Experience (UX) cards to provide feedback on their experience around “managing expectations”. This could be around facilities available, waiting times, appointment length, where you give birth, discussions with your care team, aftercare and discharge times etc.
The feedback received will then be used to shape the planning and prioritisation of changes around Managing Expectations, the next theme of our User Experience System. To fill in a UX card, click here.
The innovative UX System captures the feedback of those whose voices matter the most and focuses on a number of different key areas and themes to shape developments in our Maternity Services.
Tomorrow sees a large-scale simulated exercise taking place at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital with a practice emergency scenario taking place.
We will be joined by colleagues from Shropshire Fire and Rescue, West Midlands Ambulance Service, West Mercia Police and other multi agency partners at the ‘major incident’.
It is crucial that we have staff training to plan for, and respond to, a wide range of incidents and emergencies that could affect health and patient care, but we wish to reassure you that this is a simulated major incident and the unusual sight of a large number of Emergency Service responders and volunteer ‘patients’ is nothing to be concerned about.
Our services and care for patients will be unaffected by the exercise.