I am concerned about Covid after visiting hospital for a long awaited 'jelly' scan to see how my heart failure is progressing. There were no Covid instructions in the appointment letter but I turned up wearing a facemask as were the other members of the public there. However, in the public areas, no medics, security, maintenance or receptionists were wearing them nor did I see them sanitise their hands once when I was watching from the Costa Coffee there.
In the cardiac section, the two receptionists didn't wear masks & mingled with the couple of other waiting patients. Only the scan technician wore a mask.
In the general areas there were keep left signs being ignored by the many medics chatting, lounging against the walls looking at their mobiles.
The costa coffee in the hospital was open in the main entrance with two seats at each table but several admin staff were over a table discussing plans & two medics in full scrubs, hair covered were mucking about in the coffee queue, ignoring the markings.
I found it all confusing and worrying. My partner is a doctor in Germany and he was appalled, saying that they run around his hospital wearing masks. But then though it is a large student town in south west Germany, they have had only three cases in ICU due to Covid as the deaths happened in the care homes. Their main worry is the loss of money from empty beds due to cancelled operations, being insurance based, each bed is around 600 euros a night.
My goodness whereabouts in the country is that one so that we can avoid it. I so understand why you feel concerned. I would be registering my worries with the appropriate health care trust. I have been to a little local hospital twice in the last few weeks and am due back there for a scan shortly. They were following all the rules perfectly with separate entrances depending on which area you were going to with a person taking your temperature and watching you sanitise your hands etc etc but I still came home, changed my clothes and showered to be sure as advised by the nurse taking my blood. Hope you did the same especially following your experience. Cross fingers you will be fine, especially as the infection rate seems very low at present.
It is a major London one and after the scan, I washed my hands outside the cubicle and the technician asked if I was alright. I said I was washing and sanitising but nothing else was said. No temperature was taken by the security staff as gossiping by the door but people entering & leaving, from what I saw, were using the hand sanitisers without being told.
It was the same place where, 5 weeks ago I spent 24 hrs in a medical ward and some nurses were in with us with facemasks around the neck not face.
To get home I have to catch two buses as the hospital is 9km away so washed but didn't think of changing clothes. Going back for results in two weeks so will bear your advice in mind.
Personally, I would report your experience, at the same time asking if you could be given your results in a telephone appointment as you are nervous following your experience.
I have been waiting for a cardiac appointment for six months as a follow up after my ICD implant. I had a telephone appointment back in March and sat by the mobile waiting, No call, no apology just a letter for another appointment in October so no way am I am going to miss this one. which I think is due to having a AF, but there was no reason given in letter.
As for complaining, my family have complained several times to PALS about other incidents with family and go no where.
My fault for not moving to Germany when I had the chance
Every department has a Matron, maybe contact him/her and tell them of your concerns. I use to work in a well known South London hospital. My heart sank when I read your comments. Hopefully it is not `my` hospital, have a horrid feeling that it probably is. Good luck Meenzer.
When I went to A and E a month ago, all the seats were together and people were sat next to each other. Eventually a matron came down to assess the situation and told people to spread out. Very surprising!
Just seen this on the BBC website under the title “Coronavirus: Who should wear a face mask or face covering?”
Rightly or wrongly, it just may explain some of what you experienced, but I really can’t believe these instructions have not been in place all along!
“What are the face covering rules in hospitals?
All hospital visitors and outpatients in England are being told to wear non-medical face coverings from Monday - although no-one will be denied care, and coverings will be provided by hospitals if necessary.
NHS England has now lifted its suspension of hospital visiting - but rules are at the discretion of individual trusts.
Health staff already wear masks in clinical areas within 2m (6ft) of a patient - but they will now have to wear surgical masks at all times, in all areas.”
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