James Wild MP is delighted to hear that routine (elective) care and treatment is restarting at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King’s Lynn.
The reopening of routine care follows extensive planning to make it as safe as possible for patients and staff. Services will resume at around 50% of usual capacity, in line with national guidance and other NHS Trusts. This is to help ensure that extra cleaning can take place between appointements with patients and to allow social distancing rules to be adhered to.
James said -
"I know that constituents have been concerned about medical appointments being postponed during this difficult time. I am most grateful to the QEH team for working round the clock to get routine care back on track as soon as possible.
Everyone at QEH has worked incredibly hard throughout the pandemic and deserve our heartfelt thanks."
During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, QEH continued to provide emergency and urgent care as normal. Routine clinics, however, were switched to video or phone consultations where possible. This allowed the Trust to continue with the most urgent face to face clinics, procedures and operations throughout the crisis.
Extra safety measures have been put in place to protect patients and staff, including:
- a requirement that all patients and staff coming into the hospital wear a face covering of some kind;
- hand sanitising stations at each entrance; and
- floor stickers throughout the main hospital corridors to indicate social distancing measures.
Virtual and telephone consultations will continue for many patients where appropriate, and visiting will remain restricted and only allowed in exceptional circumstances, such as the end of life, for birthing partners, parents of children or where a patient has particular needs such as a learning disability or mental health issue.
Please be aware that patients and visitors must not attend appointments if they should be self-isolating because they, or somebody close to them, has, or has had, symptoms of Covid-19 such as a high temperature, new, continuous cough, or loss or change to their sense of smell or taste.
