Manchester Private Hospital Policy COVID-19

Covid-19 Updates:

Greater Manchester to move to tier 3 restrictions from Friday at 00:01 BST, the prime minister has announced.

Version 2: 21st of Oct 2020

All Visitor needs to Check In Using NHS test and Trace App by scanning QR code poster at reception to enable all visitors to ‘check in’ using this option if you have downloaded the NHS COVID-19 App.

More information about the app and links to the sites to download it are available at https://www.covid19.nhs.uk/

Manchester Private Hospital recognises that visitors may have concerns about the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. Infection with coronavirus can lead to the disease covid-19. It has been reported that there are a significant number of confirmed cases in the UK.

There are a number of sources that are informing the approach and actions advised:

Public Health England and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO): https://www.gov.uk/guidance/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-information-for-the-public

BAPRAS COVID-19 ADVICE FOR MEMBERS

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/china

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

Prevention of COVID-19

The primary preventative measure is to follow the FCO advice. More generally, to reduce the risk of spreading this or other conditions with similar symptoms, such as flu:

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the bin.
Follow the social distancing guidance.
Testing and tracing for coronavirus
Self-isolation and treatment if you have coronavirus symptoms
Because it is a new illness, it is not known exactly how coronavirus spreads from person to person, but similar viruses spread by cough droplets.

Public Health England has updated advice regarding returning from travel. It provides the most up-to-date information and guidance for different parts of the world.

Current Public Health England advice does not stipulate that you should wear a facemask.

Whether or not you wear a facemask, to reduce the risk of spreading this or other conditions with similar symptoms, such as flu, follow the advice above.

If any patients contact the clinic to explain that they have experienced any symptoms or have been in contact with anyone who has presented with symptoms or been diagnosed with Covid-19 then their surgical and post surgery appointment should be rescheduled until they have followed PHE guidance and are sure that they are free from Covid-19.

Any staff who believes that they have been in contact with anyone who has experienced any symptoms or has been diagnosed with Covid-19 or has been in contact with anyone who has presented with symptoms or been diagnosed with Covid-19 should contact the practice manager or nurse manager immediately and follow Public Health England advice.

Public Health England Advice

Signs and symptoms of COVID-19

Typical symptoms of coronavirus include fever and a cough, loss of taste and smell that may progress to a severe pneumonia causing shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. Generally, COVID-19 can cause more severe symptoms in people with weakened immune systems, older people, and those with long-term conditions like diabetes, cancer and chronic lung disease.

If any symptoms are experienced and you believe that you have been exposed to someone who may have the virus then you should:

Contact the clinic manager immediately via telephone or email.
Stay indoors and avoid contact with other people as you would with other flu viruses
Contact NHS 111 to inform them of your symptoms and seek further advice.
Please do not leave your home until you have been given advice by a clinician.

Strategies Manchester Private Hospital are putting in place:

Patients are being offered phone and video consultation by the practitioner
Patients that attend the clinic with the above symptoms will politely be asked to reschedule their appointment including any scheduled surgery
Appointments are by prior arrangement only. No walk-ins will be permitted.
Appointments times extended to prevent overcrowding and to help ensure safe distancing between patients.
Patients should present at the time of their appointment, not earlier, or later, to help prevent overcrowding.
Patients should present by themselves, and not bring friends or family. The same is applicable on the day of planned surgery.
A maximum of 3-4 patients in the waiting rooms at any one time. If the clinic is at capacity (5 patients) any further patients will be asked to wait outside or in cars until their appointment time is ready and they will be called to come in.
Patients will be asked to sign a COVID-19 Consent form on the day of the surgery.
Consultations will be carried out via video teleconference followed by face to face
Medical History will not be given to patients on the arrival as everyone is being sent an online form to complete prior to their consultation.
The clinic will be ‘paper-free’ where possible.
Patients should wherever possible maintain safe distancing with other patients and will be offered Disposable Protective Mask on arrival. If you are asked to attend the surgery please can all patients attending for face to face appointments bring a face mask or face covering with them (e.g. scarf) where possible.
PLEASE NOTE in an emergency, for example a medical emergency, accident or fire, 1 metre social distancing is NOT REQUIRED
Patients will be asked to attend make-up free to reduce the time in clinic rooms or on surgery days.
Team members to wash hands for 20 seconds with virucidal handwash (using 7 step technique)
Patients to wash hands for 20 seconds with virucidal handwash (using 7 step technique) on the day of the surgery on their arrival.
Patients should use hand sanitizer upon arrival to clinic and when their treatment is completed
Hand Sanitizer is available in multiple locations
Staff / Patients temperature will be checked upon arrival
Sneeze/cough etiquette must always be practised
Regular and enhanced cleaning in place which includes cleaning door handles, chairs, treatment couches, laptops, iPad, telephones and shared surfaces with a powerful virucidal wipe every 30 minutes and between patients
We only use disposable paper towels
Card Payment terminals to be wiped with a virucidal agent between patients and patients to encourage payment by online transfer and internet banking.
The clinic will be well ventilated, with windows open wherever possible
Team members to keep belongings in locked storage cupboards rather than clinic rooms
Toilets will be cleaned regularly throughout the day
Clinical team will wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) gloves and aprons will be changed between patients, masks to changed 4-hourly. Theatre team to use respiratory gears as required.
Receptionist to wear surgical mask (surgical mask changed 4-hourly) / visors allocated regular hand washing/hand sanitizer using 7 step technique
All team meetings carried out using electronic platforms to avoid 1:1 meeting in person
Should a situation arise where a suspected COVID-19 positive patient has been in the clinical area, all activity should stop when safe to do so. The clinic will then undergo a deep clean using a Sanitisation, disinfection and decontamination specialist service
All surgical patients will be tested for Covid 19 prior to the surgery and self isolate for 14 days prior to the admission and have practised self isolation within their household with the exception of attending clinic for pre operative assessment and Covid-19 test.
Patients and no member of their household currently have any of the following symptoms of Covid-19 :

– Recent onset of a new, continuous cough
– Fever of 37.8 Degrees Celsius
– Loss of taste or smell
This policy will be visible in-patient waiting area and provided to patients via email

Please contact our COVID-19 Lead on 0161 507 8822 or [email protected] if you have any questions.