March 27, 2020

Click the title above for lots of info from the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital, including reductions in service, restrictions on visiting and latest advice.

LATEST RD&E UPDATE – CORONA VIRUS:

A message from Suzanne Tracey, Chief Executive

“At the RD&E and across the NHS we have a lot of experience managing serious incidents and we have well established processes, along with new plans in place to help meet this crisis head on. We have robust and well tested plans in place to test patients as necessary and to ensure we provide care in a safe way using the right equipment. We are developing our workforce response in a challenging time to ensure we have sufficient numbers of people on site to deliver good care to our patients. This will be a very challenging time but I am confident that we are as well prepared as possible to get through this as best we can, ensuring we look after our staff and do the very best for our patients”.

Our patients and community

COVID-19: Urgent message for all patients attending outpatient appointments at the RD&E

Given the latest instructions from the Government to stay at home to combat the coronavirus epidemic, with immediate effect, all non-essential outpatient appointments will be stood down. If you have an appointment booked over the coming weeks please do not attend the appointment unless advised otherwise by the Trust. If your appointment is deemed to be essential we will contact you. Read more

Visiting restrictions across our hospitals

To reduce the risk to patients, staff and any visitors and maintain the Government’s current direction on social isolation, no visiting will be allowed at the RD&E unless there are:

• Specific reasons of safety (dementia or learning disability where anxiety would be increased significantly)

• In-patients under the age of 18 years old (one parent/guardian only)

• A patient receiving end of life care Read more

Visitors Parking

During the Covid-19 situation we will be removing parking charges at the RDE sites. There are a number of arrangements in place for staff, but visitors should follow signage to the appropriate parking areas. Of course, during this time all visitors should ensure that their visit is absolutely essential.

Note: All RD&E catering outlets, including the Oasis canteen are now closed to the public.

Exeter genomics scientists to battle spread of COVID-19

Scientists at the University of Exeter and the RD&E are part of a group of the country’s leading institutions who are joining together to sequence the virus from patients throughout the UK. Read more

RD&E Appeal:#HelpUsHelpYou

In recent days the RD&E has received numerous generous donations to support our NHS staff during this challenging time. We are hugely grateful for everyones support and solidarity! If you would like to lend your support, the RD&E Charity has launched a new appeal #HelpUsHelpYou. All funds raised will go towards providing extra support for our wonderful RD&E staff who are working tirelessly to care for patients. Read more

Coronavirus advice

Our Trust websites, including our main hospital website www.rdehospital.nhs.uk and our members’ website: www.rdemembers.com are being updated regularly in response to national guidelines.

For information about Corona Virus (Covid-19) please visit the NHS webpages at www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19 or visit the NHS 111 online pages at www.111.nhs.uk/covid-19

Coronavirus support in Devon

Exeter City Council and Wellbeing Exeter are working together to provide practical help and support for local people to get through this outbreak. To find out more visit www.exeter.gov.uk/wellbeing

For further information on support services in your area visit Devon County Council’s website www.devon.gov.uk/coronavirus-advice-in-devon

Call for Volunteer ‘NHS Army’

The NHS is “rallying the troops” for the war on coronavirus, with volunteers being called up to help vulnerable people stay safe and well at home. Find out more

If you know someone who may be able to help, please ask them to visit www.goodsamapp.org/NHS to sign up to become an NHS Volunteer Responder.

General RD&E Enquires

If your enquiry is urgent, then please call our main hospital switchboard on 01392 411611. available 24 hours a day. If you are a patient, relative or carer and want to discuss someones care at the RD&E, then please contact our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) on 01392 402093 or email rde-tr.PALS@nhs.net

Keep Updated

Other ways to stay connected with recent developments at the Trust and within your local community include social media. You can follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RDEhospitals and visit our official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/RDEhospitals

We are all in this together; so for the meantime to help us to help you during this unprecedented time, keep safe and stay at home.