To help keep everyone safe, we are offering more appointments by video and telephone.

Check your appointment letter or register for Beth to confirm how your appointment will take place.   

If your appointment is by telephone and/or video call, and you need any support call the number on your appointment letter.  

Some things to consider: 

• Having a quiet and private space to talk  
• Your phone or device is charged or near charging point 
• If it’s a video call your device wifi is on 
• If it’s a video call, if possible, have a phone handy as a backup  

 
If your appointment is in person, at one of our community or hospital sites: 

• Don't arrive more than 10 minutes early for your appointment 
• Clean your hands with sanitiser when you arrive 
• Wear a face covering. We will provide one if needed.  
• If you are exempt from wearing a mask, please call the number on your appointment letter so we can arrange other safety measures.
  
• If you are deaf or hearing impaired, we might use clear masks and visual aids such as writing things down, speech to text apps and sign language.
• Respect social distancing guidance during your visit, including while you are with your clinician. 
• Help us limit the number of people on our sites by attending your appointment alone, unless you have assistance or communication needs. 

Please do not attend your appointment if you have COVID-19 symptoms (a high temperature, a new continuous cough, a loss of sense of taste or smell) or if you or your family are self-isolating. 

This might mean you receive a larger supply of tablets, or a depot injection every 4 weeks instead of every 2 weeks so you don't have to leave home so often.  

• Who to contact if you are unwell, such as family, friends or professionals
• Details of any ongoing treatment for the person you care for
• Details of their medication and when it should be taken

Due to a sustained rise in COVID-19 infections in the community and the high number of outbreaks in the trust we have taken the difficult decision to suspend visiting across all inpatient areas. This is necessary in order to protect patients, their families, and staff.

We will endeavour to examine each situation on a case by case basis, and in exceptional circumstances we may be able to facilitate visiting in the interest of patients, but only if this is safe to do so.

Exceptional circumstances may include:

• Patients receiving end of life care.
• Inpatients who have ongoing care needs and for whom visitors provide care and support essential to their wellbeing during their hospital stay, e.g. young people, patients with dementia, learning disabilities.
• When not permitting visits will cause significant distress to the individual, and when use of virtual contact has been assessed as not appropriate or ineffective.
• Fathers of babies residing (staying) with mothers on the Mother and Baby Unit recognising the importance of the emotional/psychological bond between parent and child


We ask that all visitors must:

• confirm in advance that they, or any household members, have no symptoms of COVID-19
• confirm in advance that they, or any household members, have had no contact with confirmed/suspected cases of COVID-19
• wash their hands or use hand sanitiser when entering and leaving clinical areas
• wear face covering
• observe physical distancing

In addition, it is strongly recommended that visitors who meet the exception criteria, carry out a LFT on the day of the visit, and not visit if this is positive. It may be necessary for ward staff to support some visitors to carry out the LFT test.

Please contact the ward or department in advance to arrange calls and visits.

As a carer, you should be given the contact details of the team that is providing a service to your family member or friend, and the name of the person responsible for their care.

If you don't know who to talk to, check our service directory or contact our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS). 

For PHE leaflets in a range of languages and formats visit these links:

• What to expect after your first Covid-19 vaccination 
• Covid-19 vaccination and blood clotting (English only)
• Covid-19 vaccine guides for older adults 
• Guides for women who are pregnant, planning a pregnancy or breastfeeding 
• QR codes for vaccine leaflets in your language 
• Easy-read leaflets (English only)
• Why you are being asked to wait for your Covid-19 vaccination