Covid-19 updates
Throughout the pandemic we have been working hard to continue providing round the clock care for patients and their loved ones.
Visiting arrangements
From Monday May 24th 2021 patients will be able to have two visitors to see them on our in-patient unit, between the hours of 13.00 -16:00 hours, seven days a week. In order to keep patients, visitors and staff safe we have introduced some control measures described below that you must be aware of prior to visiting a patient. All hospice patients are vulnerable to the Coronavirus.
1. For any patient who is Covid-19 positive visiting will not be permitted, including on admission.
2. For any patient who is symptomatic of Covid-19 and awaiting test results visiting will not be permitted. Test results are usually available in 24 hours and visiting will then be reviewed.
3. If you are displaying any symptoms of Covid-19 it is important you do not visit the hospice.
4. Each visitor will be screened to ensure they do not have a high temperature. You will also be asked if you have a new continuous cough or a loss of or change in your normal taste or smell. In the event that you have a temperature of 37.80c or above, a cough, or loss of taste or smell you will be unable to visit a patient.
5. From Tuesday April 6th 2021, visitors to the St Catherine’s in-patient unit will need to carry out a self-test for Covid-19 twice a week. The Lateral Flow Device (LFD) tests give results in 30 minutes and a negative result with a NHS Covid notification on your phone/email will mean you will be allowed entry to the in-patient unit. For those unable to take and register their own test at home, we have an LFD testing clinic operating at the hospice. For further information please download the information leaflet here. Our policy can be read here and the consent form you will be asked to complete is available here.
6. If you have travelled abroad in the previous 10 days you will not be permitted to visit the hospice and national guidance re self- isolation should be followed.
7. Patients will be permitted one visitor per day from a nominated list of up to five individuals. Changes to the list of five nominated visitors will not be permitted.
8. On admission to the hospice patients will be tested for Covid-19. Up to 2 visitors will be permitted to be present on the day of admission to support the patient and admission process. Visiting will then be permitted once the patient has a negative result.
9. In addition to the nominated list of 5 adult visitors, a minister or priest is also allowed to visit to meet the spiritual needs of the patient. PPE must be worn and the same checks take place as for other visitors.
10. Children under 18 years old can visit a patient if they live in the same household when accompanied with an adult. The number of children able to visit at any one time will be discussed on a case by case basis.
11. When a patient wishes to see their grandchildren, one visit per grandchild for up to an hour can be arranged when accompanied by an adult.
12. 11 year old’s and over must wear face masks and sanitise their hands and under 11 years old’s must sanitise their hands.
13. All visitors will enter the Hospice via the main reception area. When you arrive at reception you must use the hand gel provided and you will be provided with a medical grade face mask. You will then be given further instructions about what to expect from the visit including wearing of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and leaving after your visit.
14. Visiting will be between the hours of 13.00-16.00 hours every day. These times will minimise potential virus spread by reducing contact between visitors and clinicians.
15. All visitors will be required to wear PPE: a mask, apron, visor and gloves at all times. These will be issued on arrival and you will be shown how to wear the PPE correctly.
16. Visitors will be asked to scan the QR code on arrival if they are able to and provide a contact telephone number for track and trace purposes.
17. Visitors are invited to arrive any time from 12:45 hours onwards. This is to give you time to sign in and put on your PPE. You will be required to queue along the corridor at 2 metre distances and chairs are provided.
18. If you are visiting a patient who is thought to be on their last days of life visiting arrangements will be discussed with you.
19. Where clinicians are required to care for a patient you will be required to go into the conservatory temporarily.
20. When visiting ends at 16.00 a bell will be rung and you will be guided from the Hospice in a phased manner.
21. Refreshments will not be available during visiting time
22. Please can visitors ensure any items brought for patients are brought into the hospice in a plastic bag. The empty plastic bag can then be placed in the yellow bin in the patient’s room.
IN ORDER TO KEEP PATIENTS AND STAFF SAFE IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT ALL VISITORS ADHERE TO THIS GUIDANCE. IN THE EVENT THAT THIS IS NOT FOLLOWED IT MAY BE NECESSARY TO MAKE FURTHER RESTRICTIONS. THIS IS NOT WHAT WE WOULD WISH FOR.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND COOPERATION
Guidance for Visiting Patients in their Last Days of Life
The hospice team, want to support patients and families at this difficult time, during the Covid-19 pandemic. At the same time we are also working with Public Health England and Government guidance.
Therefore while it is not our usual practice, we have implemented restricted visiting, as the health safety and wellbeing of our patients, staff and communities is our absolute priority. We review our visiting arrangements frequently in line with guidance relating to the Covid-19 pandemic.
For patients who are thought to be in their last hours and days of life and have been commenced on an end of life care plan, the following visiting arrangements will apply:-
Visiting for Patients who are Diagnosed with Covid-19 or Develop Symptoms of Covid-19
If you are displaying symptoms of Covid-19, it is important that you do not visit the hospice.
For any patient who is Covid-19 positive or develops symptoms of Covid-19, visiting will be considered on a case by case basis. Patients will be able to nominate a maximum of two visitors. Both visitors will be able to visit together and both will be advised to self- isolate.
Visiting Times and Number of Visitors Permitted.
1. Visiting will be everyday between the hours of 13.00-19.00 hours.
2. The patient can nominate a list of up to five individuals. Changes to the list of five nominated visitors will not be permitted.
3. On admission to the hospice patients will be tested for Covid-19. Until the test results are known patients will only be able to nominate up to 2 visitors. If the patient proves negative they will then be able to nominate up to 5 visitors as above.
4. Two visitors can visit between the hours from 1-7pm.
5. Visitors who wish to visit in the evening, must have signed in before reception closes at 5pm.
6. Additional visitors will not be permitted, with the exception of children as outlined below.
7. Children can visit and those that live in the same household can be in addition to the 5 nominated individuals. The number of children able to visit at any one time will be discussed on a case by case basis.
8. Children from a different household for example grandchildren can be included in the 5 nominated individuals but must be accompanied by an adult.
- Click here to see the St Catherine’s ‘Coronavirus Information for Patients and Carers’ leaflet
Other updates:
- At the hospice, we are keeping the inpatient unit team separate from those working in the rest of the building, and all of the necessary safety measures – including the use of PPE – is in place across the hospice for patients, staff and visitors.
- Foreign Travel – Although we acknowledge it unlikely a patient referred into hospice services has been on recent foreign travel, new patients and their household will be asked to declare any recent trips abroad as part of the admission/referral process to ensure the correct safety arrangements are put in place. Please see government guidance regarding foreign travel here.
- Our Clinical Nurse Specialists continue to care for people in their own homes across Central Lancashire, and our lymphoedema nurses continue to provide treatment at the Woodside Clinic, with additional safety procedures in place.
- Please, click here to read St Catherine’s ‘Staying safe statement’ document. Please click here for the latest UK Government guidance and updates.
Our Covid privacy notice
Covid-19 and your information
This Privacy Notice explains how St Catherine’s (Lancashire) Ltd, and our affiliated trading company St Catherine’s Trading, our lottery company St Catherine’s Promotions and The Mill (St Catherine’s Social Enterprise) will use your personal data in order to meet the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Herein’ referred to as St Catherine’s.
Please read this privacy notice together with St Catherine’s general privacy statement here which contains more detailed information about our data processing.
St Catherine’s has decided to collect and keep a limited record of staff, patients and visitors who come onto our premises for the purpose of contact tracing. By maintaining records of staff, patients and visitors and sharing these with NHS Test and Trace where requested, we can help to identify people who may have been exposed to the Coronavirus.
NHS Test and Trace is part of the Department for Health and Social Care, in England
If you would like more information on the Government Track and Trace service, please click here.
Our legal basis for processing your information
We use your personal data in line with the rules set out in the General Data Protection Regulations Article 6 (1) (e) – public task.
What information do we collect?
As a visitor to St Catherine’s, you will be asked to provide some basic contact details. The following information will be collected:
• The names of all visitors, or if it is a group of people, the name of one member of the group.
• A contact phone number or email address for each visitor, or one member of a group of people.
• Date of visit and arrival and departure time.How and why we ask you to share your personal information
We collect and process information, including personal information, to enable contacts of known COVID-19 sufferers to be identified, contacted and an assessment of their risk of catching COVID-19 be made and advice provided to those at high risk..
Consent
If you do not wish your contact information to be passed to NHS Test and Trace if requested, please speak to a member of staff.
Who we share your personal data with
We will only share information with NHS Test and Trace if it is specifically requested by them. For example, if another visitor or member of staff at the hospice reported symptoms and subsequently tested positive, NHS Test and Trace can request a log of visitors details for a particular time period (e.g. this may be all who visited on a particular day or time-band, over a two-day period).
NHS Test and Trace will not disclose this information to any third party unless required to do so by law (e.g. as a result of receiving a court order).
How long do we keep your personal information?
NHS Test and Trace have asked us to retain this information for 21 days from the date of your visit, to enable con tact tracing to be carried out by NHS Test and Trace during that period.
However, the government guidance may also cover information that we should usually collect and hold onto as part of our ordinary dealings with you (e.g. your name and contact details). Where this is the case, this information only will continue to be held after 21 days and we will use it as we would usually, unless and until you tell us differently.
Your information will always be stored and used in compliance with the relevant data protection legislation.
