Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust South Wiltshire Rural Governors Update

Wiltshire News has recently been reporting that the number of COVID-19 cases in Wiltshire continues to be below the national average but had increased during August. They have also continued to advise people to keep washing their hands regularly or sanitising them, and to get your first and second dose of the vaccine when offered, and if you have COVID 19 symptoms, please book a test and self-isolate immediately.

Services across our hospital remain in high demand and we are also seeing an increase in patients attending our Emergency Department. NHS visitor guidance will stay in place in healthcare settings to ensure patients and staff are protected. Therefore, to facilitate a more extended approach to visiting, the Trust has agreed for the number of visitors to the in-patient setting to increase in some areas.

Alternatives to visiting must still be considered in an attempt to support a range of options for patients to maintain contact with relatives and/or those that are of importance to them.

Nationally, and in the South West, there has been a noticeable increase in paediatric patients being admitted to hospital Emergency Departments with severe respiratory illness as restrictions ease and people mix more, with cases higher than usual for this time of year and further increases expected over the winter months.

There has also been a rise in COVID 19 hospital admissions among unvaccinated pregnant women in the UK. Among the pregnant women hospitalised with the virus, the vast majority have not been vaccinated at all.

This message is from the elected governors for South Wiltshire Rural. Further information about the Trust and it’s Elected Governors may be obtained from:

The Membership Manager
Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust
Chief Executive Dept.
Salisbury District Hospital,
Odstock Road,
Salisbury,
SP2 8BJ

Website: www.salisbury.nhs.uk
Phone: 01722 336262 ext. 5479