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Trust confident we can resume more services safely

14 July 2020

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is resuming a variety of services paused or reduced by Covid-19. We are confident as we resume more services that we can deliver a high quality of care, keeping patients, visitors and staff safe. We urge those offered appointments and procedures to take advantage of them

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is resuming a variety of services paused or reduced by COVID-19.  We are confident as we resume more services that we can deliver a high quality of care, keeping patients, visitors and staff safe. 

We urge those offered appointments and procedures to take advantage of them.

Chief Executive Lesley Watts said: “We have planned carefully and we are confident we can resume these services in a way that is safe for patients, visitors and staff.  Our plans have been assessed and agreed by experts from the broader NHS. 

“Even at the height of the pandemic, we met emergencies and other health needs. Now we want to work with our partners in the NHS, local government and others—to tackle the unmet needs of our community.”

How we keep you and our staff safe

We’re experienced at dealing with infectious diseases and now COVID-19. Our hospital services are being redesigned to test all patients, and keep those patients with COVID-19 and those without in safe, separated areas. This ensures all patients get the right care, with the right precautions.

For example, preoperative assessments will not be held on a main hospital site. 

Those coming in for elective procedures will self-isolate and be tested. They go through a separate entrance (not through the main hospital). 

Staff are regularly tested and symptom checked, wear masks even in non-clinical areas, and change their protective equipment when moving into a non-clinical area. They won’t be wearing equipment that can infect you.

In general all patients and visitors will be:

  • temperature-checked on arrival
  • asked to wear a mask and wash hands or use hand sanitiser regularly
  • asked a checklist of relevant questions to see if they have symptoms or have been exposed to COVID-19 or other infections recently
  • asked to continue to social distance—keep 2m from other people—in the hospital

You will notice new signage, one way systems, reduced seating, and directions to specific entrances to help keep us suitably apart.

The relevant department will be in touch with additional information about any appointment

Outpatients

We will continue to use telephone and video appointments where possible. Some appointments may be face-to-face where necessary.

We have introduced a variety of digital solutions to improve your control over appointment processes and your care more widely.

Current visiting policy

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stephencx George Vasilopoulos