This is the third weekly email from me, to keep you up-to-date on the evolving situation for coronavirus (Covid-19), as we deal with this and keep updating our measures to keep patients and staff safe at this critical time.

As I wrote last week, we are seeing an increase in the number of seriously ill patients who have tested positive for Covid-19 in our hospitals. Therefore we have taken further significant steps to protect our patients and the staff caring for them. 

We now have new visitor restrictions, in line with guidance from NHS England. Visiting at both Queen’s and King George hospitals has been suspended since last week, (Friday 27 March), until further notice. Exceptional circumstances will apply to allow one visitor - an immediate family member or carer – to visit if:

• the patient is receiving end-of-life care
• they are a birthing partner accompanying a woman in labour
• they are a parent or appropriate adult visiting their child

Our ward managers are ensuring all patients have a named relative and allocating times for people to call, on a daily basis.

Whilst we have restricted the number of entrances and exits at both hospital sites, all Haematology and Oncology patients at Queen’s hospital should continue to use the department’s car park and entrance. 

As a Trust we have worked hard to maximise opportunities to change the way we work, to help us manage the coronavirus situation. As we plan for an increase in the number of patients with Covid-19, we are making changes to our wards and how we use them.  We are also training more doctors and nurses to create additional clinical teams in intensive care as we know that there will be a huge demand in the coming weeks. This allows us to increase the number of dedicated Covid wards, increase our intensive care capacity for patients who will need mechanical ventilation, and maintain capacity to care for those patients who do not have Covid-19, yet still need to be in our hospitals. 

The measures we have taken allow us to focus our resources where we need them the most in the coming weeks.  Please be reassured though that any patients who urgently need to speak to a doctor, or require immediate treatment, will still get the care they need.  We will also continue to carry out the most urgent operations. These changes will remain under review.

You will no doubt have heard over the weekend that testing for coronavirus is being rolled out to NHS staff.  As a Trust we are currently working on the process for testing to take place initially for frontline staff in essential services, who have reported mild symptoms or are self-isolating due to a household member, meaning staff who are able, can return to work.

We are taking a number of steps to protect some of our most vulnerable staff such as updating our risk assessments and adding further guidance for social shielding and pregnant women. There is also free staff parking on-site at both Queen’s and King George hospitals until further notice. We are also sharing details internally of parking exemption schemes for staff, for both on and off-street parking in all three boroughs. 

We have also been overwhelmed with offers of support from our local communities and more widely.  I would like to convey my gratitude to everyone for their support particularly last week’s ‘Clap for our carers’ initiative – a welcome boost to all at this difficult time.

We have had fantastic feedback following a recruitment campaign to find temporary staff to help support us during these difficult times – one of our adverts reached more than 90,000 people on Facebook and we received more than 500 applications. 

I am also really pleased to announce that we are recognising lower paid workers by paying them the London Living Wage from 1 April. This is being introduced for staff directly employed by Sodexo and Interserve, who help keep our hospitals running efficiently and provide a huge amount of support to our staff and patients.

Please share key updates within your networks, and remind people who think they have symptoms to read the information on the NHS 111 website. 

Remember you can find the latest advice and guidance on the NHS and Public Health England websites.

Thank you for your continued support.

Tony Chambers
Chief Executive

(Please note the information contained in this update was accurate at the time of publishing and is subject to change.)