Important Information About the Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for patients, service users, visitors and the public
Inpatient services at Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust are functioning as normal. The front page of our website will be used to make any announcements regarding changes if they happen.
For the latest information on how COVID-19 has affected our services, click here.
The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of any of the following:
- a new continuous cough
- a high temperature
- a loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)
For most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness. However, if you have any of the symptoms above you should self-isolate at home
- NHS is still here for you, so don’t delay in seeking medical help if you need it.
- Many services are working differently to keep you and their staff safe – such as assessing you over the phone or online by video consultation, or operating different hours –you can check working times on websites.
- If you need medical help from your GP practice, contact it either online, by an app or by phone to be assessed – please don’t go along in person.
- If you need urgent medical help, use the NHS 111 online service at www.111.nhs.uk . If you cannot get help online, call 111.
- If your or someone you care for has a serious or life-threatening emergency – like chest pains or signs of stroke - call 999 immediately.
- If you are told to go to hospital it is important that you go to hospital.
- You should continue to attend your appointments, unless you have been told not to attend.
- Your local pharmacy is continuing to provide advice, support and treatment for a range of minor illnesses and ailments. It will be following social distancing guidelines and it may take longer to get the advice you need, so please be patient – remember, please do not go in person if you have coronavirus symptoms.
At this time, visitors to all areas are restricted to essential visitors only, such as a patient’s main carer.
You may be asked if your visit is absolutely essential and we ask for your understanding at this time.
The NHS and Public Health England (PHE) are well prepared for outbreaks of new infectious diseases. The NHS has put in place measures to ensure the safety of all patients and NHS staff while also ensuring services are available to the public as normal.
Stay at home if you have either:
- A high temperature - this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back
- A new continuous cough - this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you already have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
- Do not go to a GP surgery, Walk in Centre, pharmacy or hospital.
How long to stay at home
- If you have symptoms of coronavirus, you'll need to stay at home for 7 days
- If you live with other people, they should stay at home for at least 14 days, to avoid spreading the infection outside the home. After 14 days, anyone you live with who does not have symptoms can return to their normal routine.
- But, if anyone in your home gets symptoms, they should stay at home for 7 days from the day their symptoms start. Even if it means they're at home for longer than 14 days. The most up-to-date public guidance is always online at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus
- If you live with someone who is 70 or over, has a long term condition, is pregnant or has a weakened immune system, try to find somewhere else for them to stay for 14 days. If you do have to stay home together, try to keep away from each other as much as possible.
- If your symptoms are serious, or get worse, NHS 111 has an online coronavirus service that can tell you if you need further medical help and advise you what to do.
Do not go to a GP surgery, Walk-in Centre, pharmacy or hospital. Use the online coronavirus service.
Only Call 111 if you cannot get help online.
Coronavirus infection usually occurs through close contact with a person with novel coronavirus via cough and sneezes or hand contact. A person can also catch the virus by touching contaminated surfaces if they do not wash their hands.
Testing of suspected coronavirus cases is carried out in line with strict guidelines. This means that suspected cases are kept in isolation, away from public areas of GP surgeries, pharmacies and hospitals and returned home also in isolation. Any equipment that come into contact with suspected cases are thoroughly cleaned as appropriate. Specific guidance has also been shared with NHS staff to help safeguard them and others. Patients can be reassured that their safety is a top priority, and are encouraged to attend all appointments as usual.
Everyone is being reminded to follow Public Health England advice to:
- Always carry tissues with you and use them to catch your cough or sneeze. Then bin the tissue, and wash your hands, or use a sanitiser gel
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after using public transport. Use a sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
- Do not have visitors to your home, including friends and family
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
- Avoid close contact with people who are unwell.
The Department of Health and Social Care and Public Health England have issued fresh guidance on the Coronavirus.
The link below will be updated at 2.00pm every day with the latest information and includes:
- Information about the virus
- What to do if you develop symptoms.
Further information can be found here.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for patients, service users, visitors and the public
The majority of services in Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust are currently functioning as normal. The front page of our website will be used to make any announcements regarding changes if they happen.
At this time, visitors to all areas are restricted to essential visitors only, such as a patient’s main carer.
You may be asked if your visit is absolutely essential and we ask for your understanding at this time.
Latest advice
As you will appreciate advice about COVID-19 changes at regular intervals. This page will be updated as required to signpost to the latest information.
This is a summary of the latest advice from Public Health England.
- If you have symptoms of coronavirus infection (COVID-19), however mild, stay at home and do not leave your house for 7 days from when your symptoms started. (See ending isolation section for more information)
- This action will help protect others in your community whilst you are infectious
- Plan ahead and ask others for help to ensure that you can successfully stay at home
- Ask your employer, friends and family to help you to get the things you need to stay at home
- Stay at least 2 metres (about 3 steps) away from other people in your home whenever possible
- Sleep alone, if that is possible
- Wash your hands regularly for 20 seconds, each time using soap and water with large groups of people
- Avoid social activities cafes, cinemas or bars
- Avoid any events
- Stay away from vulnerable individuals such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions as much as possible
- You do not need to call NHS111 to go into self-isolation. If your symptoms worsen during home isolation or are no better after 7 days contact NHS 111 online. If you have no internet access, you should call NHS 111. For a medical emergency dial 999
For full details on the latest stay at home advice for people with confirmed or possible coronavirus click here.
Official information sources
For the most accurate and reliable advice please go directly to the website of Liverpool City Council, local NHS organisations and Public Health England who are providing the latest local updates and advice through dedicated social media pages on Twitter and Facebook. Click on these links or search @COVIDLiverpool on social media to follow regular and reliable local information.
Useful links
Central Government website:
www.gov.uk/coronavirus
Public Health England:
www.gov.uk/publichealthengland
Liverpool Healthwatch:
A ‘one stop’ Covid-19 information hub is available for Liverpool service at www.healthwatchliverpool.co.uk/covid-19-information-resources /
Guidance on what everyone should do is available in English here on the government website, and on this same page there is information in Easy Read and several community languages covering advice for everyone and for people more at risk people.
People More at Risk read the guidance in English, easy read and community languages for everyone, and for more at risk groups, here on the government website
Guidance for extremely vulnerable people is available on the government website in English, Easy Read and various community languages.
Guidance for Asthma, Lung conditions, Arthritis, Heart Disease and Stroke and you can find these at the end of this NHS webpage.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/advice-for-people-at-high-risk/
Guidance about what to do if you have symptoms of coronavirus is available here at the government website in English, Easy Read and several community languages.
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