COVID cases have been rising again in our communities and our hospitals and I would urge you to do all you can to keep yourselves and your loved ones safe.
As you are aware we look after the most vulnerable in our communities and we have to do everything we can to protect them. Please do not attend our hospitals if you are COVID-19 positive, are showing relevant symptoms, feel unwell or are isolating. Visitors must wear the appropriate face covering at all times.
I thank you all for your support in following these guidelines and as I have said previously it has made a real difference seeing friends and relatives being able to visit their loved ones again in our hospitals, but we have to do all we can to keep them and my colleagues safe.
Visiting restrictions in our hospitals were relaxed back in August and patients can now have two at any one time between 11.30am and 8pm and there is no longer a limit on how long they can stay for.
We politely discourage visiting during mealtimes, therefore please try to visit outside protected mealtimes. If you normally visit at mealtimes in order to help or encourage a relative or friend to eat, we are happy for you to continue to do so.
We still continue to provide the additional flexibility and support needed for compassionate visiting and those patients with specific needs. Separate arrangements also remain in place for Critical Care, Maternity, Children’s wards, and the Neonatal Unit.
I would also reiterate my message that if you are over 50 please book for your COVID-19 Autumn booster and flu vaccination ahead of the winter. More people get viruses over winter and the vaccines are the best protection against getting seriously ill from flu and COVID-19.
More than 80,000 COVID-19 autumn boosters have been delivered across the county. More than 30 sites are now delivering COVID-19 autumn boosters, while the flu jab is being offered at numerous community pharmacies and GP surgeries across the county helping to ensure that the vaccines are convenient to access.
There are lots of bookable appointments through the national booking system or by ringing 119 and walk-in sites across the county.
Following on from our successful Medical Experience Day organised by the William Farr Academy, it is holding an ‘Ask the Doctor’ session this evening (19 October). It is designed for those in Year 10 and 11. It will hopefully inspire those students from an under represented background to consider a career in medicine and they will hear from some of our doctors who have similar backgrounds.
The work of the Academy is incredible for those aspiring for a career in medicine. It has other events organised over the coming months. If you would like more information please email sath.williamfarr-academy@nhs.net
It was National Pharmacy Technician Day yesterday (Tuesday) and I would like to recognise the invaluable contributions of the many Pharmacy Technicians that work within our Trust and other healthcare environments. They play a key part in our workforce – thank you.