Advice for patients attending hospital for surgery during the Coronavirus (Covid 19) Pandemic

You must isolate for fourteen days prior to admission, this also includes members of your household and the person who is bringing you to hospital, if they are not part of your household.

In practical terms, this means you must:

Stay at home.

Not go to work, school or public areas.

Do not attend any gatherings. This includes gatherings of friends and families in private spaces, for example, family homes, weddings and religious services.

Avoid visitors to your home.

Ask friends, family members or delivery services to carry out errands for you - such as getting groceries, medications or other shopping

Strictly avoid contact with someone who is displaying symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19). These symptoms include high temperature and/or new and continuous cough.

You will receive a phone call four days prior to admission to arrange your Covid swab which will be done three days prior to admission at the hospital closes to your home address. This is a drive through service so you must arrive in a car, not public transport, but you can attend on foot if you live close to the hospital. You must attend for this otherwise your surgery will be cancelled. Please note: you will only be contacted if the result is positive.

On the day of surgery, you will be required to have your temperature taken on arrival to the Department. The person who is bringing you to the hospital needs to stay in their vehicle, for approximately 20 minutes to allow time for checks to be taken. Please ensure you bring all contact numbers with you.

If you develop any of these symptoms, cough or cold, a high temperature, loss of taste and smell, fatigue and muscle aches, please contact the Pre-Assessment Team on:

Queen Elizabeth Queen Mother Hospital – 01843 725115

Kent and Canterbury Hospital – 01227 783114

William Harvey Hospital – 01233 616743

For further information please use the link:

https://cpoc.org.uk/patients/guidance-patients-having-operation-during-covid-19

Failure to follow any of the above instructions will result in your surgery being cancelled

The High Street and Whitfield Surgeries have a Patient Participation Group, If you wish to join please contact Sarah Jarvis on 01304 206463, She  will be happy to help you.

All our patients now have an allocated GP, if you are unsure who your GP is please feel free to contact the practice. A member of our reception team will be happy to help you.