Keep surgery dates plea from hospital

HOSPITAL patients are urged to keep their surgery dates and keep attending appointments.

The Royal Berkshire Hospital revealed that low numbers of people turning up for allotted clinic slots or operations that were put on hold.

In one case, 200 people waiting for cataract surgerywere contacted and told there were slots free — but only three took up the offer.

Doctors areworried peoplewith potentially life-threatening illnesses like cancer, heart disease and stroke symptoms, are also staying away.

Steve McManus, chief executive of the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are now almost a covid-free hospital.

“We’ve implemented major safety procedures. “Our staff have been tested for covid, we have strict social distancing rules in place, clinical rooms are thoroughly cleaned after each patient has been seen, everyone is wearing a mask or face covering, hand sanitisers are in place around the site, new rules on using the lifts are in place – everything possible has been done and I can reassure people they are in very safe hands when they come here.”

People booked in for an operation must selfisolate for 14 days along with the rest of their household. When they are called in for a swab before their surgery, they are advised to avoid public transport — as this effectively takes them out of the 14 day isolation period.

Formore, visit: www.royalberkshire.nhs.uk