Covid-19 guidance
We continue to see people who have symptoms of Covid-19 in all our sites. Please avoid attending as an outpatient or visitor if you have developed symptoms or tested positive within the previous six days, unless this has been discussed with the ward or department beforehand. There are some cases where people need to seek our services urgently and we ask if you have been asked to attend that you wear a surgical face mask and follow good practices with hand hygiene.
Masks
Masks are no longer required routinely although some people will choose to continue to wear them. These remain available at hospital entrances and you can ask a member of staff should you need help accessing them.
Masks will continue to be required for patients with suspected or confirmed Covid-19, where they are tolerated and clinically safe to wear.
There are some situations where you will still find staff wearing masks and if there is a cluster of cases in a single area you may be asked to don a mask to enter.
Living with Covid-19
The safety of patients, staff and visitors is paramount. The following guidance can help support us to protect each other:
1. Get vaccinated
2. Let fresh air in
3. Remember the basics of good hygiene
4. When to consider wearing a face mask
This information from the UK Health Secirty Agency on living safely with illnesses like Covid-19 may be useful.
Covid-19 restrictions for visitors
There are currently no trust-wide restrictions on visiting, but please do check with the ward you intend to visit for any local infection prevention and control issues that may impact on visiting arrangements.
Covid-19 vaccinations
The Dorset vaccination programme for the public is led by Dorset Healthcare - please contact your GP practice for more information. Please note eligibility criteria applies.
In some circumstances inpatients who miss a seasonal vaccination programme may be offered vaccination as an inpatient and there are criteria available for when this is offered. Please discuss with your consultant or nursing team if you feel this is appropriate.
Are you experiencing long-term symptoms of Covid-19?
Information for people managing the longer term effects of a Covid-19 infection can find information here.
Testing for Covid-19 on inpatient wards
The organisation follows national guidance for testing staff and in-patients and this is mostly now using lateral flow devices rather than laboratory testing. There are some exclusions, for example in high risk wards where the impact of having COVID-19 may be severe.
