Looking to the Future 29Looking to the Future

Dr David Fluck, Medical Director and Director of Infection Prevention and Control at Ashford & St Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

The past year has been one of the most difficult many of us have faced, and certainly one of the most challenging in the history of the NHS. We are currently in the third national lockdown since the beginning of the pandemic and whilst things are still very tough, we have a renewed sense of optimism and hope for the future, thanks to the COVID-19 vaccine. I’m sure you will have seen or read news reports of the vaccination programme being rolled out throughout the UK and it really is an incredible achievement that as of February 8th, already over 12.5 million people have received their first dose of the vaccine. Please be assured that the vaccines that are being administered in the UK (currently PfizerBioNTech and Oxford/AstraZeneca) have been approved by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) and are safe and effective. The reason that the vaccines have been made available so quickly is due to the global effort providing resource and funding to fast track them through the system without compromising safety or effectiveness. I hope that some of you will have already received your first dose of the vaccination and would urge everyone reading this to please take up the offer of the vaccine when you are asked as the vaccine is the best defence against COVID-19 - both for us as individuals and for the country as a whole, and will help us all get back to doing the things we love more quickly. The government has now extended invitations for the vaccine to the over 70s age group, asking that they book their appointments online. Whilst the vaccination programme is an exciting development, it is still really important to continue following the government guidance in terms of socialising and travelling and remembering Hands Face Space, at all times to protect each other and the NHS.

Last month, we introduced new digital checkpoints for both patients and staff entering St Peter’s Hospital through the main entrance, which we are planning to extend to the main entrance of Ashford Hospital in coming weeks. When entering through the digital checkpoint, you must ensure that you sanitise your hands using the alcohol gel available and put on a new surgical face mask. You will then need to stand in front of the thermal camera so that your temperature can be checked and the camera can detect whether you’re wearing a mask. The camera will then either display a green light which means you have a face mask on and your temperature is okay after which you can then enter the site, or a red light which means you have not got a face mask on or you have a temperature. If after applying the face mask the red light still flashes this will indicate you have a temperature. If this is the case, patients should speak to the member of staff manning the checkpoint or someone on reception. If you have a temperature or any other Covid-19 symptoms, you should return home immediately and both you and your household should begin to self-isolate and book a Covid-19 test as soon as possible. The reception team are located near the patient checkpoint and will be able to direct you to where you need to go for your appointment. We hope that this new system will make it quicker and easier for patients and staff to enter the hospital, whilst doing so in the safest way possible.

To keep up to date with the latest updates from Ashford and St Peter’s, please visit our website https://www.ashfordstpeters.nhs.uk/

The past year has been one of the most difficult many of us have faced, and certainly one of the most challenging in the history of the NHS. We are currently in the third national lockdown since the beginning of the pandemic and whilst things are still very tough, we have a renewed sense of optimism and hope for the future, thanks to the COVID I’m sure you will have seen or read news reports of the vaccination programme being rolled out throughout the UK and it really is an incredible achievement that as of February 8 received their first dose of the vaccine. Please be assured that the vaccines that are being administered in the UK (currently Pfizer BioNTech and Oxford/AstraZeneca) have been approved by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) and are safe and effective. The reason that the vaccines have been made availab resource and funding to fast track them through the system without compromising safety or effectiveness. I hope that some of you will have already received your first dose of the vaccination and would urge everyone reading this to please take up the offer of the vaccine when you are asked as the vaccine is the best defence against COVID individuals and for the country as a whole, and will help us all get back to doing the things we love more quickly. The government has now extended invitations for the vaccine to the over 70s age group, asking that they Whilst the vaccination programme is an exciting development, it is still really important to continue following the government guidance in terms of 29 socialising and travelling and remembering Hands Face Space, at all times to protect each other and Or email monica@villagematters.co.uk the NHS.