NHS leaders in Stockport have confirmed that safety measures to protect patients, staff and public from COVID-19 at Stepping Hill Hospital and other hospital and community NHS settings in the area are set to continue from Monday 19th July, despite the easing of restrictions elsewhere.
Safety measures on these sites have helped to protect staff, patients and visitors over the past year, and enabled NHS staff to continue to provide non-urgent services which may otherwise have had to be postponed. As well as face masking, social distancing and separating hospital areas into separate zones, other innovations have been put in place including an increase in online consultations and telephone advice services, which have been proven highly effective with patients and families.
With cases of infection still spreading both nationally and locally, Stockport NHS Foundation Trust is continuing to keep these measures to provide ongoing protection. This means all staff, patients and visitors must continue to follow guidelines, including wearing a face covering and complying with social distancing and hand hygiene guidance as before.
It also means visiting to trust inpatient sites is still limited. At the present time visitors are only allowed for patients at Ward A10 and Ward E1 on the Stepping Hill Hospital site, the Bluebell Unit at the Meadows Hospital in Offerton, and the Devonshire Centre for Neuro-rehabilitation on Cherry Tree Lane. These visiting restrictions are subject to review, and family members are advised to view the latest visiting information on the trust website.
Nic Firth, Chief Nurse at Stockport NHS Foundation Trust said “It is fantastic that we have had such a high rate of COVID-19 vaccination uptake in Stockport. Unfortunately people can still catch the virus without feeling any ill effects, and then pass it on to others. It’s very important our public can be confident about accessing or visiting local healthcare services safely, and that we continue to protect our patients who remain vulnerable to COVID-19. That’s why even though restrictions are being lifted elsewhere, we’re asking staff, patients and visitors to continue to play their part to help to protect ourselves and each other in line with national healthcare guidance.”
An NHS England press release on national guidance on ongoing COVID-19 protection measures in hospitals can be found here.