What is COVID-19?
COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. People with COVID-19 can have very mild or no symptoms at all. This means they can spread the virus to other people without knowing. We provide care for vulnerable people and our staff see lots of patients each day. It is important we all take responsibility for reducing the spread of COVID-19. We want to keep you, your family, other patients and our staff safe. Because we care, we might ask you to do things differently while you are here. Keep hands clean, as COVID-19 and other viruses and bacteria can stay on surfaces for some time.
To protect yourself, staff and visitors, please wash your hands with soap and water or use hand sanitiser when needed. If you are unable to go to the sink, or use the hand sanitiser ask the staff for cleansing hand wipes.
Key times for hand hygiene include:
- before meals
- moving in and out of communal spaces/bedroom/bay (Longridge)
- after using the toilet
- after handling your mask
- after using tissues to blow your nose or for coughs and sneezes
- Try not to touch your face (mouth, nose, eyes) as this is an easy way to spread the virus.
Wear a mask Wearing a mask reduces the risk of you passing COVID-19 to other patients and staff, or to your visitors. It will also give you some additional protection if others have the virus. The following are some of the reasons that you may be asked to wear a mask while in hospital:
- If you have COVID-19 infection, or are suspected to have this
- If you have any symptoms of a respiratory infection
- If you are at increased risk of developing COVID-19 infection
- Within all areas of any setting where an increased risk from COVID-19 infection has been identified
- You can also wear a mask at any time if this is your personal preference
Surgical masks will be provided for you, if you need (or want) to wear a mask while you are an inpatient, or visiting our healthcare settings. Even if you don’t have any symptoms, it is important you wear your mask properly (covering your nose and mouth).
You will need to remove your mask to eat and drink. As a minimum we ask that you wear your mask when away from your bed space and whenever you are unable to keep 1 metre away from others - for example when staff come into your space to provide care, or if you have visitors.
It is important to put on and take off your mask in a safe way. Ask the staff caring for you to show you how to do this. If you can’t wear a mask for any reason, or rely on lip reading or facial expressions to communicate, please talk to your care team about what to do. We have transparent masks also available.
If you have a carer or visitor coming to see you on the ward, they may also be asked to wear a surgical face mask too.
Make space for others
Leaving at least 1 metre between you and other people is one of the main things you can do to reduce the risk of catching or spreading respiratory infections, including COVID-19. If you or others have COVID-19 infection or are suspected to have this, or if you have any respiratory symptoms, it is important to maintain this 1 metre distancing from others as much as possible. This would not apply if staff need to come into your room or bay (Longridge) to provide care.
Ensuring rooms are well ventilated can also reduce the risk of people developing COVID-19 infection.
Other ways of keeping everyone safe from COVID-19 in hospital To help keep us all safe, please do not:
- sit on or visit other patients’ beds/bedrooms
- share food and drink
- help other patients to walk or move about
This is important for carers and visitors too. If you or another patient needs something, please let staff know.
Our staff are trained to help in a safe way.
Staying in your room/waiting space
We know it can be hard to stay in the same room for several days, but moving about can quickly spread the virus, especially if you do not know you have an infection. It also increases the chance of you catching one. Please do not visit other wards of the hospital unless you are asked to by a member of staff. If you are asked to stay in a waiting or treatment area, please stay there. If you think you need to go somewhere or want to get something (for example, food/ drink or outside for fresh air), check with the staff first.
COVID-19 tests for people who are staying in hospital
We may need you to take regular COVID-19 tests. This test is usually a nose swab, but we may also need to include a throat swab too. If you are asked to take a test, please do so. You can also discuss any questions you have with staff.
Will I be asked to isolate from others?
If you test positive for COVID-19, you might be moved to a room to keep people around you safe and so that we can provide you with the right type of care. You will be asked to remain isolated for six full days after testing positive for COVID-19, rarely this may need to be extended. This may differ from the COVID-19 guidance outside of healthcare settings, but helps to ensure that you cannot pass on the virus to patients that are more vulnerable to COVID-19 infections. Staff on the ward will support you with a care plan when you are isolating and will provide you with meals, drinks and communication tools so you do not need to leave your room. They will also provide you with resources to help keep you occupied.
How we will care for you
When you receive a positive COVID-19 result you will be reviewed by doctors and nurses on the ward. The nursing staff will share a COVID-19 care plan with you, and will answer any questions you may have. The Infection Prevention and Control Team (IPCT) will contact the ward every day to support the team on the ward, to look after both yourself and other patients.
Working together to protect each other
It’s okay to remind doctors, nurses and other patients when we need to make space for each other, clean our hands, or cover our mouths and noses. Reminders can help us all to look out for each other.
More information
If you would like to know more about how we’re trying to stop COVID-19 spreading and keep people safe, please ask a member of staff.