Keeping you safe during the COVID-19 pandemic

Keeping you safe during the COVID-19 pandemic

Last updated: 2022

At Nightingale Hospital, our primary aim is to ensure that our patients and staff remain safe, healthy, and protected. The COVID-19 pandemic has presented huge health and safety challenges for us all. Nightingale Hospital has implemented many robust measures in response to these challenges. The main measures you need to be aware of are listed below.

Visiting hospital inpatients

After careful consideration, and in line with the relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions in the UK, it has been decided that inpatient visiting will be resumed. This will take place with immediate effect. All visits will be held in a dedicated large room on the lower ground floor of the hospital (room B14). Visitors will not be able to see their family members/friends on the wards.

To facilitate as many visits as possible, whilst avoiding overcrowding, the following measures are in place:

• There will be three distinct visiting slots: 17:00 – 18:00; 18:00 – 19:00 and 19:00 – 20:00
• Visits will be limited to 1 hour in duration (requests for an extended time will be reviewed on an individual basis)
• Inpatients will be allowed a maximum of two visitors at any one time
• All visitors must have a confirmed visiting time that has been agreed with the nursing staff. The hospital will be unable to facilitate ad-hoc visits

Visits must be booked in advance, by calling the specific ward the patient is on.

Continued health and safety measures:

• Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms should not visit
• All visitors must wear a mask/face covering, including when entering and moving throughout the hospital, use hand sanitiser stations upon entering and leaving the premises, and, maintain social distancing (of 1-metre minimum)
• When a visitor arrives at the hospital reception, they will be asked for their full name, and the name of the inpatient they are due to see. Visitors will be escorted to and from the dedicated visiting room

For any questions regarding the lifting of restrictions on inpatient visiting, please contact the wards.

Please note: These guidelines exist solely for visits to patients in the hospital. A separate protocol exists for visiting on the eating disorders unit, located on Bendall Mews.

We thank you for your co-operation.

Outpatients

Virtual consultations and therapy sessions

Attending the hospital for an outpatient consultation with a psychiatrist, therapy or a Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) or nasal spray for treatment-depression session

You will receive a health screening email in advance of your appointment. You are required to wear a mask or face covering when arriving at the hospital. In addition, you will be temperature screened upon arrival.

During face-to-face appointments, your consultant psychiatrist or therapist may wear a face mask or face visor. A mutual decision will be made as to whether you should wear a mask during your consultation.

We have over 30 hand sanitiser dispensers placed on walls throughout the hospital, including at all of our reception points. We encourage you to use these at all times.

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) at Nightingale Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic

The rTMS treatment room is kept scrupulously clean, at all times. The rTMS practitioner will be dressed in full PPE (personal protective equipment) throughout treatment. This includes wearing a gown, mask, a clear face visor and gloves. The practitioner will wear a brand new gown and gloves for each session. Between each patient, all surfaces, the treatment chair, and all equipment are thoroughly cleaned. The entire room is also sprayed with disinfectant, between each appointment.

When patients enter the rTMS room, they will be asked to wash their hands thoroughly with hospital-grade disinfectant soap. All patients will be provided with a new disposable face mask, which they will be required to wear throughout the treatment session.

Nightingale Hospital has installed over 30 hand-sanitiser stations around the hospital. Patients are asked to sanitise their hands when they enter and leave the hospital.

Inpatients

COVID-19 screening for inpatients

Prior to admission, you will need to complete a health declaration questionnaire. You will have to confirm you have been symptom-free of COVID-19 for a minimum of seven days prior to your admission date. Upon admission, you will be tested for COVID-19. You must self-isolate until the test result is returned. This can take up to 48 hours. The hospital has a COVID-19 isolation ward for patients who display symptoms or who test positive for the virus. This isolation ward is a protective measure and has not been used for many months.

Regular rapid lateral flow testing for all inpatients

All inpatients will be tested twice per week for COVID-19, using rapid lateral flow testing kits. Rapid lateral flow tests give a result in 30 minutes using a self-swab device.
You will need to self-swab under staff supervision.

Additional testing for all patients will take place in the following circumstances:
– If you take overnight leave, you will be automatically tested upon return to the hospital, regardless of when you were last tested.
– If you become symptomatic or have suspected or confirmed exposure to a COVID-19-positive person.

Group therapy programmes

A large part of your therapy programme will be face-to-face, with COVID-19 safety guidelines being followed at all times. Some group therapy sessions will be delivered remotely via Zoom to continue to maintain social distancing. You will be able to join these groups from the comfort of your bedroom. If you do not have an electronic device, the hospital can provide one for you for the duration of your stay

Enhanced hygiene measures

Throughout the entire hospital, enhanced hygiene and infection control measures have been introduced. Our housekeeping team maintains the highest infection control and sanitation level throughout the hospital.  All outpatient consulting rooms are sanitised between appointments. A strict cleaning rota is in place to ensure that all wards and communal areas are rigorously cleaned.

Ongoing monitoring of the evolving situation

At Nightingale Hospital we are committed to ensuring the safety of our staff and patients. Our health and safety policies regarding COVID mirror all the latest guidance outlined by the UK Government. All inpatients are screened for COVID-19 before being admitted to the hospital.