COVID 19

Arrangements for visiting to our inpatient units are as follows: 

• Visiting hours are between 2pm and 7pm each day
• Only one consistent visitor is allowed per patient - this person will be the only individual permitted to visit
• Visits will be restricted to 30 minutes only
• All visits must be prearranged with the ward – visitors will be asked to contact the ward to agree a time slot
• Maximum of three visitors for three separate patients will be permitted on any ward at any time

To discuss arrangements for visiting or keeping in touch please contact the relevant wardx. Use the numbers below and ask to speak to the nurse in charge. 

• Herts and Essex Hospital - 01279 827231
• Danesbury Neurological Rehabilitation Centre - 01438 841866
• Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital - 01438 841805

To prevent and control the spread of infection, the following requirements are in place for anyone visiting our inpatient wards:

• Those experiencing COVID-19 symptoms will not be allowed to visit
• Anyone who has entered or returned to the UK from any of the Government's "red list" countries in the last ten days will not be allowed to visit
• Visitors must use hand washing facilities or alcohol hand gel when entering and leaving the wards
• Visitors are asked to wear a face mask or face covering, gloves and apron (personal protective equipment)
• Social distancing guidance must be adhered to where in place
• All personal protective equipment (PPE) must be disposed of appropriately before leaving the ward

If you have an appointment - please attend  

All our services are running as normal, we are accepting referrals, and running appointments and clinics.

We may offer you an appointment by telephone or by video call. This will help us to discuss your condition and assess what treatment you may need more quickly than a face to face appointment. Telephone or video call appointments are just as important as face to face appointments. 

Video call appointments

When we book your appointment we will give you full instructions on how to join the video call. We will let you know what to expect and ask you to confirm whether you have a mobile phone, tablet or computer that enables you to have video calls (or if you know someone who can help you with this).

Our video call appointments are run using a system called Attend Anywhere. You can find information about this on our Attend Anywhere webpage. 

Face to face appointments

If we need to see you in one of our clinic buildings, we will ask you to wear a mask or face covering. When you are called in to see the clinician, if needed to assess or treat you, they will ask you to remove your mask. We have taken steps to ensure that all our clinic buildings and areas are safe, including:

• installing perspex screens at reception desks
• arranging seating areas so that people coming into the building can keep a safe distance apart
• All our staff will be wearing the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) to keep you and them safe. 

If you are worried about attending your appointment, please call us on the number at the top of your appointment letter so that we can discuss any concerns with you. You can also email our Patient Advice and Liaison Service  or call them on 0800 011 6113 (local call 01707 388164). 

General COVID-19 advice when attending appointments

People infected with COVID-19 can have very mild symptoms or no symptoms at all and can transmit the virus to others without being aware of it. It is a national requirement to wear a face covering or mask in hospitals and other health and care settings. We therefore ask for your cooperation when visiting one of our sites for an appointment:

• Please wear a face mask or face covering, unless we have already risk assessed you and advised you not to
• We will advise you about the need to wear a face covering when we contact you about your appointment
• Though we advise you to bring your own face covering or mask, we will provide masks for any patient who needs one
• Children aged under three do not need to wear a face covering.

By following these requirements as well as general government advice about social distancing and hand hygiene, you help to reduce the risk of transmission and keep our sites safe

The information in this section details our service offers as we recover from the  COVID-19 pamdemic.

COVID-19 and our overall service offer

We are following the guidance for community health services from NHS England and Improvement.

All services are accepting referrals, which can be made in the usual way. Where necessary, we are prioritising patients and service users according to clinical need. We are continuing to run our enhanced services for adult patients to respond to the local need in East and North Hertfordshire. 

For specific information on each of our services and how to refer to them, please go to our A-Z services webpage and select the service you require.