COVID-19 Procedures at Veincentre

We have introduced measures (following Public Health England and Health and Safety Executive guidance) to minimise the risk of transmission of the virus to patients or to our staff.

These measures that impact patients include but are not limited to as below.

When booking your appointment & on the day of your appointment:

• You will be asked a series of questions to ascertain if you, or anyone in your household, are likely to be carrying the virus and if so we will delay booking your appointment until it is safe for us all
• IF:
• you, or any of your household, has any of the known Covid-19 symptoms within the last 14 days (https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/check-if-you-have-coronavirus-symptoms/)
• you have been told to isolate by the government’s Test and Trace service (Test and Trace Information: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing/)
• you have returned from abroad and been told to self-isolate (see information from UK Border Control: https://www.gov.uk/uk-border-control)
• You must call us to let us know if any of the above applies to you.
• All clinical staff will have regular lateral flow tests and will only continue working if this is negative
• You are strongly encouraged to travel to and from the clinic in your own transport; public transport should be avoided. Another person can drive you but they must be from your household or support bubble
• Your temperature will be checked on arrival at the clinic by an infrared thermometer. If your temperature is high, or you show any other symptoms of Covid-19 we will need to reschedule your appointment
• You are encouraged to take your temperature before travelling to the clinic to avoid an unnecessary trip if it’s found to be high on arrival
• You should wear a type 2R surgical mask at all times whilst inside the clinic and we will be refusing to see any patient that does not wear a mask
• Only one patient will be allowed in the clinic at one time. No companion will be allowed into the clinic
• You will be asked to wait outside the clinic until the time of your appointment when we will instruct you to enter
• Refreshments in clinic will be no longer be served. Water will be available in disposable plastic cups however patients are encouraged to bring their own water bottle
• Payments and future bookings may be made by phone rather than face to face with the receptionist
• The use of lifts is discouraged but if you do need to use, please do so alone or with members of your household only (only applicable to our Manchester clinic)

At our clinics:

• Social distancing measures will be enforced in the clinic where possible
• Staff will wear PPE including face masks & their temperature will be measured
• Extra cleaning procedures have been introduced and additional time will be scheduled between appointments to enable these
• Glass screens have been installed between receptionists and patients
• Tape has been placed on floors to indicate social distancing positions
• Signage has been put up to remind you of all these procedures
• Magazines and newspapers have been removed
• Close contact time will be minimised which may impact on casual conversation
• No patient, staff member or other visitor will be permitted in the clinic if they, or a member of their household, has symptoms of Covid-19

Additional measures:

Clinically extremely vulnerable and clinically vulnerable people (see the Government’s Covid-19 vulnerable groups) are advised to continue to follow the Government’s latest advice. We are screening all patients to check their vulnerability. If you are clinically vulnerable and you wish to attend an appointment, we will honour your decision. If the government’s advice is you must shield, regrettably it is unlikely we will be able to see you until the advice changes. See more information on the NHS website link: Who’s at Higher Risk from Coronavirus? and Advice for people at high risk

Remote consultations

Remote consultations are offered to reduce physical contact and the amount of travel – please read more about it here.