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hospital bosses fear patients avoiding life-saving care over coronavirus fears
HOSPITAL bosses are worried people are avoiding getting potentially life-saving treatment or getting emergency care because they are scared of contracting coronavirus.
Such is the level of concern that the University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, the George Eliot Hopital and South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust have joined forces to launch an appeal to persuade the public to seek the urgent/emergency care and treatment they need.
It follows warnings that delays in getting treatment due to coronavirus pose a long term risk to people’s health.
It is no secret that Accident and Emergency department attendances are down, at around 50 per cent at the George Eliot Hospital.
Bosses fear that people are not attending urgent appointments or getting the care they need because they don’t feel safe.
Hospital chiefs say staying at home is ‘making a difference’ to coronavirus cases. Glen Burley, the Eliot’s chief executive, sought to assure people that huge steps are being made to ensure patient safety and appealed to residents to get the care they need.
“I recognise how scary these uncertain and challenging times are for everyone, but I would also like to instil confidence in how we are managing this crisis and the precautions we have put in place to make our sites safe,” he said.
“As part of that, I would urge the public that if needed please continue to access our urgent health services and get potentially lifesaving treatment for you and your families. There has always been a strong sense of community in Coventry and Warwickshire, but in these times more than ever, I am extremely grateful for the support we are receiving from the public.
“Thank you to everyone who is helping us, and a special thank you to our staff - I am so proud of the commitment, dedication and compassion you all show every day. “
As well as accessing urgent medical care, he stressed that they want all residents to ‘feel comfortable’ attending important routine appointments and continue receiving vital NHS care.
Professor Andy Hardy, Chief Executive of University Hospitalscoventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust said: “It’s really important that our patients and public know that the NHS in Coventry and Warwickshire is still there for patients without coronavirus who need urgent and emergency care. “
He went on: “We have worked hard to make changes to the way we offer our services, so that people can continue to safely access our care, for example, separate entrances in A&E and offering remote outpatients appointments where this is possible across our University Hospital and Rugby sites.
“The public can feel confident that we have taken the necessary precautions to make people safe. I urge people not ignore any health problems that you may have, this could potentially lead to greater problems if they don’t seek our care.”
South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust, George Eliot NHS Hospital Trust and University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust are all part of the Coventry and Warwickshire Health and Care Partnership.