Notice to visitors: reducing the risk of Coronavirus (COVID-19)

We are taking all possible measures to reduce the risk of the transmission of COVID-19 to our colleagues and those who use and visit our services. To help us do this we are working in accordance with the advice given by the World Health Organisation and public health agencies.

For this reason we ask that you:

1. Do not enter our building if you have been in contact with a person infected with COVID-19.
2. Do not enter our building if you have returned from a specified country or area in the last 14 days.
3. Do not enter our building if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms:

• acute respiratory infection of any severity, including at least one of the following:
  • a. shortness of breath or cough (with or without fever) or
  • b. a fever with no other symptoms.

Rebekah Cresswell
Chief Operating Officer

Priory Group - COVID-19 preparedness

The Government is currently coordinating the national response to the outbreak of COVID-19, and Public Health England (PHE) has published a range of COVID-19 guidance for health professionals – including guidance on the assessment and management of suspected UK cases, and specific guidance for social, education or community care and residential settings. The NHS website also has updated coronavirus pages, bringing guidance for the system and healthcare professionals in one place.

Priory Group has established an Incident Control Team (ICT), led by the Group Director of Nursing, who is the Executive Director responsible for Infection Prevention and Control. This team monitors the official guidance from the NHS and PHE daily, and oversees the Group’s response and advice to individual queries and concerns, as well as the related business continuity planning across the Group in line with our Infection Control and Pandemic policies.

We have established a dedicated email alert system for our staff. This is monitored by the ICT and we have effective communication channels in place to keep our workforce up to date with the national guidance, as well as raising awareness to staff and those who use our services as to how COVID-19 is transmitted, and what measures individuals can take to lower their risk. We recognise the importance of continuing to operate good hygiene and infection control practices across all sites and services and we continue to reinforce this through our regular communications.

Due to the volume of enquiries being received I regret that we’re unable to respond to individual questions around preparedness (unless in extenuating circumstances) to ensure that resource is prioritised towards managing our response to the evolving national position.