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.

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