While the number of people testing positive for Covid-19 infection has started to decrease in the communities served by the hospital many people are still being admitted to hospital with the disease. The Hospital trust has provided the following update on the present position and the rollout of the vaccination programme.
John Mangan
Governor for the New Forest.
COVID-19 Cases
Salisbury District Hospital continues to experience intense pressure as it treats large number of COVID-19 positive patients. As of 26/01/2021 the hospital is treating over 130 patients that have tested positive and has recorded 158 deaths where the patient had tested positive.
In order to continue to provide care for those suffering the severe impact of COVID-19 infection and those with other critical conditions, the hospital are having to make changes to the way the hospital works and how they prioritise who they can treat. To that end the hospital are limiting the number of surgical procedures undertaken. Sadly this means having to postpone some operations. The hospital continues to perform all cancer, high priority, emergency and trauma surgery. By making this difficult decision the hospital can continue to provide professional, compassionate care when it is most needed.
The hospital will contact you if your appointment has been postponed. If you do not hear from them please attend as planned.
If you are feeling unwell please contact the NHS by calling 111, your GP or in an emergency 999. A&E remains open 24/7 to treat emergencies and the hospital continues to provide critical and urgent care, and of course the maternity team never stop delivering babies.
The hospital’s dedicated staff continue to provide safe and timely care but the hospital need support from the local community:
-all visiting has been suspended except for those receiving end of life care and those
patients with special needs.
- Anyone planning on visiting loved ones at Salisbury Hospital should contact the relevant ward in advance and discuss alternative ways to keep in touch. This decision has been made to protect patients and staff and support the safe operating of the hospital.
- Please only use the hospital A&E department in an emergency. As a first option the public can call 111, contact their GP, visit a walk-in centre/minor injury unit or talk to a community pharmacist.
- Please keep all appointments and notify the hospital if you are unable to attend.
- If you have an appointment at the hospital, you should wear a face mask rather than a face covering. Face masks are available from stations at entrances.
Send a message to a loved one
During this challenging time, when families and friends are not able to visit their loved ones in hospital, Salisbury District Hospital has set up a dedicated email address enabling family and friends to send a message to a loved one.
To do this, email sft.messagetoalovedone@nhs.net with your message.
To make sure that the messages get to the right people please provide the full name of the recipient, the ward the loved one is being cared for on, and/or the loved one’s date of birth/full postal address.
From 8.30am to 4.30pm Monday – Friday messages can also be telephoned through to the PALS team on 01722 429044.
Every day at 2pm they will print off all the messages received and volunteers will deliver them to the wards in the afternoon.
COVID-19 vaccinations in Salisbury
The NHS is currently offering the COVID-19 vaccine to people most at risk from coronavirus.
In England, the vaccine is being offered in some hospitals and pharmacies, at local vaccination centres run by GPs and at larger vaccination centres. More centres are opening all the time.
Since the end of December, Salisbury District Hospital has been providing vaccinations, as a hospital hub, to those in the priority groups including resident’s aged 80-years-old or older, high risk and vulnerable residents, NHS staff and care home staff.
A number of venues in the area have now opened as GP led vaccination services delivering thousands of jabs to the priority groups. These include services in Tidworth, Larkhill, Wilton and at Salisbury Cathedral. A large vaccination centre has also now opened its doors at Salisbury City Hall.
Individuals from the top priority groups are being be invited to be vaccinated by both their GP and from the NHS nationally. Patients will be able to choose whether to have the vaccine at a Large Vaccination site such as the City Hall, or to wait to be invited to a GP-led vaccination clinic, which could be more convenient. The over 70s are also beginning to be offered the opportunity to have the vaccination.
The NHS is working hard to make sure those at greatest risk are offered the vaccine first and people will not be able to make an appointment until they have received their invitation.
Please note that vaccinations are free of charge and only available through the NHS. Anyone who claims to be able to provide you with a vaccine for a fee is likely to be committing a crime and should be reported to the Police online or by calling 112. The NHS will never ask you to press a button on your keypad or send a text asking you to confirm you want the vaccine.
More information on the vaccine can be found online at www.nhs.uk.
Voluntary Support to the Hospital
The hospital’s voluntary services team recently put out a request for volunteers from the
community to help as ward buddies and to support the large vaccination centre at Salisbury City Hall. The Trust were overwhelmed with the volume of offers of help. Thank you to all those who have contacted them – please bear with the team as they work through these.
26 January 2021
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