19 July 2021

COVID-19 precautions including masks and social distancing will remain in ALL Sheffield’s adult hospitals and community health sites from 19th July.


Patients, visitors and staff will be required to continue wearing masks, gel their hands and adhere to social distancing while in any of Sheffield’s adult hospitals or when interacting with community health staff despite the lifting of national restrictions on Monday 19 July.

The guidance is in line with national infection prevention control guidance set out by Public Health England last week (15th July) stating that mask-wearing should continue in health and care settings beyond the 19th July.

As of today (Monday 19 July), patients, visitors, healthcare staff will need to:

  • Continue to wear a mask. Masks will be freely available at all sites in case anyone does not have one with them.
  • Continue to wash/gel hands regularly especially on entry and exit.
  • Keep a distance from other people at all times unless it is part of the care being given
  • Not attend if they have any Covid-19 symptoms or have been asked to self isolate by NHS Track and Trace.

Visiting restrictions will remain unchanged at each hospital site (Northern General, Hallamshire Hospital, Weston Park, Jessop Wing) which means it is one named visitor at a time allowed for up two hours a day unless in exceptional circumstances. All visitors are currently asked to undertake a lateral flow test which must be negative before coming to the hospital. Patients attending healthcare appointments will also be asked to continue to attend their appointment alone unless they require assistance or in exceptional circumstances.

Professor Chris Morley, Chief Nurse for Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “We are incredibly grateful for the continued support of our patients, visitors and staff, and understand that we are all desperate for the day when we are no longer restricted in our actions. However as healthcare professionals we have a duty to consider what is happening locally as well as nationally, the vulnerability of the people we come into contact with and the impact on the delivery of healthcare if rising numbers of colleagues also contract the virus.

"Currently we have one of the highest levels of COVID-19 cases in the community since the last peak in January and our hospital admissions are rising each day. At Sheffield Teaching Hospitals for example we have gone from single figures of patients with COVID to over 50 in 10 days.

"Regrettably some have needed intensive care and the majority are under 50 years old and unvaccinated. We also have a growing number of staff off with the virus or because they have had to self-isolate following contact with someone who has tested positive. That is why we have taken the decision not to relax any of our current precautions at this stage.

"Masks will be freely available at our hospitals and community venues and so please do feel free to approach a member of staff if you forget to bring one along. We will continue to monitor the situation and national guidance in the coming weeks and make changes where it is safe and appropriate to do so. In the meantime please check our website and social media to check the current restrictions in place including visiting arrangements and coming in for appointments.

"Finally I would urge anyone who has not had both COVID-19 vaccinations to please take the opportunity to get jabbed either at Sheffield Arena (7days a week 8am-5pm), The Octagon Centre in Sheffield (7days a week 8am-5pm) or at one of the many walk in clinics happening across South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw. You don’t need an appointment, just turn up. Your second dose can only be given 8 weeks from you first vaccination but you do not need to wait 12 weeks anymore.”

ENDS

 

 



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