Coronavirus Advice & Information for Patients

Steps we're taking to be safe

Rutherford Health will continue to ensure we navigate these challenging circumstances with everyone’s health and well-being in mind and we are taking the following steps to stop the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).

We have taken the below measures:

• Enhancing the frequency of our deep cleaning and hand washing and ensuring that all our team members are following all appropriate protocols to protect the health of our team members and patients.
• Adding more hand cleaning points in centres that we ask patients to use when they visit.
• To support reduced footfall and potential exposure, relatives are asked to wait in their cars unless it is identified that they need to accompany the patient into the centre for their appointment.
• Regulating numbers of staff in centres to minimise risk –we would encourage patients to minimise numbers that they bring with them to centres.
• Monitoring cleaning practices in centres – patients will be asked to ensure they follow the guidance and instruction in the centres.
• Monitoring the situation daily and updating plans to ensure we can complete treatments for each patient. This may mean that we might have to move patients to other centres if the occasion requires.
• Continuing to work with local partners to ensure services and emergency support is maintained in the centres.
• Keeping patients informed of the situation in the centres and regarding treatments as the situation develops.
• Managing appointment/treatment times to minimise risk and contact between patients. This may mean that individual appointments could be changed to quiet times in the evening.
• Maintaining operational capacity in the centres, and helping local NHS as the situation develops.

What can we do:

• Assist with provision of transport in and out of the centre to help patients avoid public transport.
• Arrange accommodation if required.
• Continue to provide patient support services as required.
• Move patients between centres to ensure treatments are maintained.
• Provide treatments at home if possible and preferred.
• If patients are elderly or have contraindications, or are generally concerned about proximity to others, we will make appropriate arrangements if sitting in our main waiting area is not a preferred option.

Guidelines:

We will be following updated guidance on a daily basis and will continue to develop our working practices as appropriate and would like to encourage all Rutherford patients and families to visit the NHS England or NHS Wales  websites for the most recent advice regarding COVID-19.