Hospitals and clinics return to ‘new business as usual’ at the front door

It’s back to ‘new business as usual’ from this Friday at Wye Valley NHS Trust’s front door entrances at hospitals across the county for patients and visitors attending appointments. 

Throughout the pandemic, patients and visitors have been required to attend main entrance check points at WVT’s hospitals as part of its infection and prevention measures. 

However, from 1 April, this will change allowing patients, visitors and staff to use the main hospital entrance for entry and exit and go straight to the relevant department for their appointment.  

At the department reception area, patients will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms before attending their appointment, and the wearing of face masks for patients and visitors is still a requirement in NHS premises, unless medically exempt. 

Lucy Flanagan, Chief Nursing Officer, from Wye Valley NHS Trust, said: “These changes from 1 April reflect the national easing of COVID-19 restrictions, and patients and visitors will no longer need to be screened for COVID-19 at the front entrance to our hospitals, and can instead go straight to their appointment. 

“Patients and visitors are still required to wear a face mask on NHS premises and it is very important that people do not attend WVT premises if they have COVID-19 symptoms and/or positive COVID-19 test result, as part of our duty of care to all patients”