Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital:

• Many outpatient and follow-up appointments will now be carried out over the phone or online where safe to do so. Any adult patients who continue to need to attend an outpatient appointment on the hospital site are being asked them to attend alone if possible.
• Urgent and emergency cases and cancer treatments are carrying on as normal. All non-urgent elective surgery is being postponed, and everyone affected will be contacted as soon as possible.
• All pregnant women attending any maternity appointments in the community, hospital or for an ultrasound scan are asked to attend unaccompanied. Following scans, women will be asked to go home to have a teleconsultation with the doctor.
• The Spire Hospital in Norwich is one of the private hospitals it was announced that are providing the NHS with additional capacity.

James Paget University Hospital:

• Following yesterday’s government announcement on stricter measures to tackle the spread of COVID-19, the James Paget University Hospital is implementing the following with immediate effect:
• No visitors will be allowed into the hospital to see patients, unless there are exceptional circumstances agreed with the ward manager in advance.
• All routine face-to-face outpatient appointments and elective procedures will be postponed from today. Patients will be informed in due course about further arrangements but should not come to the hospital unless specifically asked to do so.
• Urgent appointments and emergency surgery will continue as normal.
• The A&E department remains open for patients requiring urgent care. But please remember that people should not visit the hospital if they have the symptoms of COVID-19, which includes a high temperature and/or a new continuous cough.

Queen Elizabeth Hospital:

• The hospital is now carrying out some consultations over the phone. Staff are contacting patients if they do still want them to attend hospital for their planned appointment or procedure. If patients have a routine appointment booked and they have not been contacted, they will be called at the time at which they were due to be seen in hospital for a phone consultation. People should call 01553 214545 if they have any questions. The helpline is operational 9am-3pm, Monday to Friday.

East Coast Community Healthcare (ECCH):

• ECCH is cancelling routine appointments and visits so staff can focus on protecting the most vulnerable people. People can call the East Coast Community Access line on 01493 809977 if they have questions. More information on specific clinics is available at: ecch.org/coronavirus-covid-19.

Norfolk Community Health and Care (NCH&C):

• NCH&C is making information about their services available on their website: norfolkcommunityhealthandcare.nhs.uk/covid-19.htm.

Norfolk and Suffolk Foundation trust (NSFT):

• NSFT is moving away from face to face contact where appropriate, and will be delivering as many services as possible by phone or video conferencing. This will be decided on a case by case basis. Those already in the service will be able to contact their designated key worker using the contact details given to them on entering the service.
• Any concerns with this can be raised through the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS): [email protected] or https://www.nsft.nhs.uk/Find-help/Pages/Patients’-Advice-and-Liaison-Service-(PALS).aspx

CCG support for Primary Care

• GP practices are being provided with new technology to enable remote working, this includes WebEx licences, iPads, webcams and headsets.
• All GP practices in Norfolk and Waveney are now using GP Connect, which enables NHS 111 to see patient records.
• The CCGs are supporting 12 GP practices who have asked for rapid deployment of technology to enable them to offer video consultations.
• This week PCN Clinical Directors are looking at how they can use risk stratification tools to identify those people who need to be looked after at home and to manage them so they don’t end up in hospital.

Use the NHS App to order repeat prescriptions

• People can help the NHS by downloading the NHS App and using it to order repeat prescriptions – it’s easy to do. People can download the NHS App on Apple’s App Store or get it on Google Play.

Use the online 111 coronavirus service

• It is really important that people use the online 111 coronavirus service if they feel they cannot cope with their symptoms at home – people should only call 111 if they cannot get help online. Calling 111 when you do not need to could stop someone who needs help getting it.

UEA

• Technicians at the University of East Anglia are making hand sanitiser gel, which they have already started distributing to NHS organisations in Norfolk and beyond, with the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital and Norfolk County Council some of the organisations to benefit so far. This is available to GPs as well and our Primary Care Networks will organise distribution.

Texts to vulnerable people

• The NHS has started to issue daily text messages to extremely vulnerable people most at risk from COVID-19. This is part of a package of measures and provides information to support them to stay at home. You can read more about this work in this blog.
• The government is also texting people across the UK to inform them of the new rules announced by the Prime Minister yesterday (23 March 2020). This has been made possible thanks to the cooperation of mobile phone operators.