COVID-19 security - keeping you safe
Introduction
We are looking forward to welcoming you to our clinic! If you have been to us before, you will notice that we have relocated our main base from Nuffield Hospital Plymouth to Wood Clinic at Plymouth Science Park (PSP). This is not just because Nuffield will continue to receive NHS patients in order to help in the national effort to reduce NHS waiting lists. It is also because we feel we can offer you a safer and more personally tailored experience within a small independent private medical clinic.
Safeguarding our staff and patients is our top priority. We confirm we have complied with government guidance on managing the risks of COVID-19 and we continue to follow the advice and guidelines from WHO, NHS, Public Health England, NHS England and the UK government. None of our staff work in the NHS. Potentially, our team, therefore, is less exposed to the virus.
Ensuring our practice is COVID-19 secure has necessitated a number of changes to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 transmission and keep everyone safe at this time. We have implemented new policies including social distancing, enhanced cleaning and disinfection protocols, use of appropriate PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), and wellness screening of staff and visitors. The UK vaccination program is now very advanced and hopefully this together with the measures above will afford an even greater level of protection to our patients and staff.
Despite further easing of restrictions on 19th July 2021, NHS England has advised that staff and visitors should continue to wear face coverings in healthcare settings. We would be grateful for your cooperation in this regard. We want you to feel completely safe. Therefore, in addition to mandatory face coverings we will be maintaining all of our current measures including enhanced cleaning protocols, social distancing in public spaces, use of PPE by clinical staff and preferential card payments.
Changes that may affect you include:
-
To reduce the time you need to spend in the clinic, we may conduct all or part of your consultation remotely by telephone or video link. We assure you that the same standards of confidentiality and data security apply as when you are in the clinic.
-
Appointments will be spaced out to allow for social distancing between patients as well as disinfection of all surfaces and ventilation of the treatment room between patients. This might mean you have fewer options for scheduling your appointment, and it will also be important that you arrive on time please.
-
Please attend your appointment alone if possible and advise the clinic in advance if you need to bring someone with you.
-
Please bring only those items that are strictly necessary into the clinic. If you are carrying parcels, bags etc. the clinic staff will show you where to store them until you leave.
-
There will be hand sanitiser stations by the entrance and at several other points in the clinic. Please sanitise or wash your hands on arrival and also when you leave the clinic.
-
We are limiting the number of patients allowed within the clinic at any time. We do not have floor markings but we will guide you through the clinic to ensure that your contact with other persons is limited and/or socially distanced.
-
Magazines etc. will have been removed from the waiting room and refreshments won’t be available.
-
We have erected a screen to separate the receptionist from the visitors. Please keep your distance from staff members and any other patients.
-
All staff will be wearing PPE appropriate to their level of risk.
-
You will be asked to wear a mask during your visit.
-
If possible, we prefer you to pay by card. Payments should be made either on the day of your appointment, or by telephone prior to your attendance for consultation or treatment.
If you have any questions about the measures we have put in place to keep you and our staff safe, please contact us and we’ll be happy to discuss your concerns.