20 July 2020
Patients receiving surgery at the General Hospital will need to follow COVID-19 safety guidance including being swab tested and following a period of self isolation after their test.
With elective surgery resuming, new guidance requires patients to receive a test for COVID-19 at the Overdale swabbing clinic, five days before their operation.
Following the swab test, the patient will then need to self isolate at home until the day of their operation, regardless of the result. Members of the patient’s household do not need to isolate but must follow the latest public health guidance.
Medical Director, Patrick Armstrong said: “We are pleased to be able to offer elective surgeries again for those patients who have been waiting for their appointments, but it is important we begin procedures with a high level of safety measures in place to reduce the risk of infection from COVID-19. It is vital patients follow these measures to protect themselves, hospital staff and families.”
If the patient is a child, parents are asked to nominate a parent or guardian to accompany the child on the day of surgery and both will be swabbed and need to isolate.
Isolation guidelines for patients include:
- Do not go to work, school or public areas
- Do not use public transport or taxis
- Do not go outside in public space for exercise
- Do not go out to shops
- Do not have house visitors
- Where possible, do not share bathrooms or kitchens
Patients isolating must:
- Maintain 1m physical distancing on the journey to hospital
- Wear a mask covering nose and mouth
- Regularly wash hands
- Keep touch points clean within the home
gov.je