Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Coronavirus (COVID-19) update

We would like to remind people that you should not come to hospital unless absolutely necessary.

If you do need to visit the hospital, please be aware of the following changes we have made which will help to reduce the spread of infection. 

Wearing a face covering or face mask 

Following the Government's new guidance on the extended use of face masks in NHS hospitals, all patients and visitors will need to wear a face covering or a face mask when entering the hospital building.

You should bring your own face covering or mask, but we will provide you with one if needed.

This new guidance will be enforced from Monday 15 June. 

You must also wear a face covering or mask if you are travelling to the hospital on public transport. 

There may be exceptions such as young children and people with breathing difficulties.

For further information, please speak to a member of staff. 

A member of staff will greet you at one of our main entrances to check the reason for your visit, how you are feeling and to ensure you are wearing a mask appropriately. 

It's important that you wear and remove your mask properly, as this can be a source of infection otherwise - please watch this video and follow the instructions below:

How to wear a face mask

1. Clean your hands with hand sanitiser, or soap and water
2. Hold the mask with the coloured side away from you
3. Hold the mask by the ear loops and place a loop around each ear
4. Mould the stiff edge to the shape of your nose
5. Pull the bottom of the mask over your mouth and chin
6. Avoid touching the front of the mask

How to remove a face mask

1. Avoid touching the front of the mask. Only touch the ear loops
2. Hold both of the ear loops
3. Gently lift and remove the mask
4. Throw the mask in the designated clinical waste bin (yellow and black bag)
   or
   Place the mask into a plastic bag and then into your waste bag, if you are going to wear your mask home
5. Clean your hands with hand sanitiser, or soap and water

Please remember that face masks are not an alternative to social distancing and good hand hygiene, which are the most important precautions we can take against infection. 

Social distancing 

We have installed a number of signs and stickers to reinforce the social distancing regulations.

You must keep two metres apart from other people and should walk on the left hand side of corridors and stairs. 

Entrances 

We are also asking all patients and visitors to only use the following entrances: 

• Hospital main atrium entrance
• Hospital west entrance (near the Boots Pharmacy)
• Brunel Treatment Centre entrance
• Swindon Intermediate Care Centre (SwICC) entrance

You can also enter the Emergency Department, the Urgent Care Centre and the COVID-19 assessment unit as normal. 

If there is somebody entering or exiting the building before you, please wait your turn so we can ensure social distancing is maintained. 

You will not be permitted to enter the building through the north entrance, entrance by the PALS office or any other staff-only entrances. 

Visiting a GP Surgery (Moredon, Abbey Meads, Penhill or Crossroads) 

Please note that you must enter the GP surgery through the front door, follow the one-way system around the building and exit through a separate door.

You must sit at least one chair apart when waiting in the waiting area. 

Where possible, we are asking patients to wait in their cars until they are called for their appointment, so that we can minimise the number of patients who have to use the waiting areas. 

Outpatient appointments 

We are pleased to now be able to offer outpatients both face-to-face and telephone appointments.  

We are currently working through our outpatient clinics and will be reviewing waiting lists, rebooking patients in order of clinical priority.  

You will be advised ahead of your appointment about whether it will be going ahead face-to-face or virtually when you receive your appointment letter. 

Face-to-face appointments  

To maintain social distancing in waiting areas, please do not arrive any earlier than five minutes before your appointment.

If you are early, you may be asked to return closer to your appointment time.

If you have symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19), please do not attend your appointment.

Please let us know you will not be attending and see the NHS website (www.nhs.uk) for guidance.  

If you have an upcoming telephone appointment

We will phone you, so please be available at the appointment time you've been given.

Further information

Please see also Visitor guidance.