Statement regarding coronavirus update for patients

A healthcare professional who works in our cardiology department has tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19).

We would like to reassure our families that anybody who came into close contact with this individual is being informed and will be offered advice.

To ensure patient and staff safety the cardiology department will not be carrying out non-essential cardiac procedures including surgery and outpatients. This is for a period of two weeks from today (Monday March 9) and will be subject to daily review. Any patient affected by this change will be contacted directly.

The trust is working with Public Health England and implementing NHS guidance to control risk from the virus.

Patients and staff should continue to attend appointments normally and come into work unless they are unwell or advised not to.

If you are coming to the hospital, only one carer per family will be allowed into the hospital. This must be the same carer each day. Unfortunately siblings will not be able to visit. 

Information for the public is available at nhs.uk. After reviewing the advice, if someone meets the criteria they should visit the NHS 111 online service or call 111.

[Please note this piece was originally published on 9 March 2020 and has been amended since to reflect the latest events.]