The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust has announced anyone with outpatient appointments from next week should not attend their hospital to reduce the spread of coronavirus.
Earlier this month, Essex County Council confirmed a patient at Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow tested positive for Covid-19.
He has since been transferred to another hospital for treatment.
As of Tuesday, March 17, 21 people in Essex have tested positive for coronavirus out of a population of 1,477,764.
Anyone with outpatient appointments after Monday, March 23, should not visit the following hospitals:
- Princess Alexandra Hospital - Harlow
- St Margaret's Hospital - Epping
- Herts and Essex Hospital - Bishop's Stortford
Outpatienappointmentsts will no longer be face-to-face in any of the PAHT NHS Trust hospitals after Monday, March 23
Anyone who visits these hospitals must also following the following:
As a visitor we ask you to respect our decision and help us to limit the spread of potential infection. In order to protect our patients and staff:
- All visitors must wash their hands before and after visiting relatives
- Visitors must be over the over the age of 16 – children are not allowed
- Please do not enter the hospital in you feel unwell
- If you have a high temperature or new cough please return home and self-isolate
- Please only visit the areas of the hospital where your relative or friend is staying
- Hospital restaurants are currently closed to visitors to give our staff a place to be with each other and take some time to rest
- Drinks and snacks continue to be available from the onsite Costa and M&S. Please use this as a take-away facility
The PAHT NHS Trust said: "In response to the national guidance issued regarding coronavirus (COVID-19), we are working to provide the majority of our outpatient appointments virtually (not face-to-face), with telephone clinics and video clinics for our patients where appropriate.
"Our teams will call you before your appointment is due to advise you if you are required to attend a face-to-face appointment, so please do not call the hospital, as we are extremely busy.
"We will ensure that we keep you updated - thank you for your understanding and support."
For more information visit www.pah.nhs.uk/coronavirus-covid-19-information
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