Coronavirus

This is a developing story so please check regularly for latest updates

The safety and well-being of our patients will always be our number one priority as a Trust and this is doubly true during the current coronavirus outbreak.

We have therefore introduced a number of measures to help delay the spread of the virus and maintain essential health services for those that will continue to need them during these unprecedented times.

As things develop over the upcoming weeks, we will ensure that you are kept up to date with the latest changes and developments through regular updates. 

Cohort wards

Cohort wards have been set up in protected locations across Royal Derby Hospital and Queen’s Hospital Burton for patients who have suspected or confirmed COVID-19. These wards are staffed by teams of highly experienced doctors, nurses and other colleagues who are appropriately trained and equipped to provide this care effectively.

Please rest assured that all of our key workers on the wards are being issued with all of the necessary Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and are strictly following national guidance around infection control, to keep both themselves and our patients safe.

Visiting restrictions

With this in mind, we have unfortunately been left with no choice but to restrict those who can visit, or accompany patients in our hospitals. The only exceptions are parents/guardians accompanying children, a single birthing partner accompanying maternity patients and visitors to patients who may be at the end of their life.

Other changes

Some of the other steps being taken at UHDB to protect our patients, staff and to maintain essential services include:

• From 31 March 2020, a Receiving Unit has been set up at Royal Derby Hospital to triage patients into one of the three seperate Emergency Departments. Click here to find out more. 
• From 1 April 2020, Children’s Services at Queen’s Hospital Burton have been temporarily relocated to Derbyshire Children’s Hospital, at Royal Derby Hospital. Centralising this service will help the Trust manage extra pressures by providing more capacity to treat our young patients
• The Midwifery-led birthing unit at Samuel Johnson Community Hospital has temporarily closed. These experienced midwives have been redeployed to Queen’s Hospital Burton, in order to provide enhanced support for our pregnant women
• All day case surgery has been rescheduled, in order to reduce non-essential visits to our hospitals
• Some elective operations have been rescheduled
• Most outpatient appointments are now being conducted by phone or video, or have been rescheduled. We will call any patients who are affected by this
• The Trust is still accepting referrals from GPs, although patients may face longer waits than normal to be seen. Appointments may be conducted by phone or video, or have to be rearranged, based on the patients’ clinical need
• Derby and Burton Homebirth Services have been suspended until further notice. All of our women who’d planned for a homebirth have been contacted and made aware

Advice for patients

• If you have a new and persistent cough or a fever (37.8 degrees or higher), self-isolate to protect others and stop the spread
• Do not visit your pharmacy, GP surgery or hospital
• If your symptoms worsen during home isolation, use NHS 111 online or call NHS 111
• Regularly wash your hands with soap and water

If you have symptoms of coronavirus

• Do not book an appointment or visit a GP surgery or hospital
• Follow specific public health advice and use NHS 111 online if your symptoms worsen

All other patients

• Contact your GP surgery if you need medical help
• Continue to attend appointments, unless you are contacted directly to advise otherwise, or if you have symptoms that require you to self-isolate
• If you are unable to attend an appointment due to self-isolation, you should contact the hospital through usual routes for advice on what to do
• If you have not been contacted directly by the team that manages your care to make any other arrangements at this point, you should plan to attend as normal

For general advice on coronavirus, visit: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

You do not need to contact 111 to tell them you are staying at home.

Use the NHS 111 online coronavirus service if:

• you feel you cannot cope with your symptoms at home
• your condition gets worse
• your symptoms do not get better after 7 days

Only call 111 if you cannot get help online.

Stay at home advice can be found here.

More information can be found on the NHS website here