Coronavirus (COVID-19) information.

Coronavirus information from Queen’s hospital.

As you will be aware, the coronavirus (COVID 19) situation is changing rapidly and we need to make sure we’re as prepared as possible to keep people safe – which means using our resources as efficiently as possible.

That’s why we have taken the decision to postpone some routine planned inpatient surgery, however we will continue to carry out cancer, day cases and emergency surgeries. We are very sorry for any inconvenience this may cause, however, we must prioritise our resources to help those who are most in need.

Temporary visitor restrictions

We have introduced the following temporary visitor restrictions with immediate effect so we can protect our vulnerable patients:

• No children under 18 can visit our wards.
• To protect babies and children, we are only allowing parents to visit on our neonatal intensive care unit and all children’s wards.
• On wards where we have patients with suspected coronavirus, one visitor will be allowed per patient. Visitors will be given protective equipment to wear while on the ward.
• On the remainder of our wards, we will be enforcing our policy of two visitors per patient.

There will of course be exceptions which will be considered by our ward managers, and these temporary restrictions will not apply to patients who are receiving end of life care.

General guidance

Please remember that we are well prepared to deal with this and are following national advice and guidelines to keep everyone safe. We continue to monitor and review the situation.

If you think you have symptoms, and could have been exposed to the virus, either when travelling or via a person with the virus, you should read the information on the NHS 111 website. Do not go to your GP or hospital.

To keep yourself and your loved ones safe, make sure you:

• Always carry tissues with you and use them to catch your cough or sneeze. Bin the tissue and wash your hands or use a sanitiser gel.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after using public transport.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are unwell.

More advice on the coronavirus can be found on the NHSand Public Health England websites.