We thought it would be useful to give an update about what has been happening at Harrogate District Hospital during the Coronavirus pandemic, and what the next steps are.
In our response to the Coronavirus (Covid-19), the Trust has been required to configure Harrogate District Hospital in a significantly different way. This has meant changing the layout of the wards, ITU, theatres and the outpatients department. Our staff too, have needed to work in very different ways.
We were instructed by the Government to stop all non-urgent surgery and reduce face to face appointments and treatment for a while. During this time we have been using a lot of telephone and video appointments to speak to patients when required.
Over the last few weeks, we have been working very hard to make separate zoned areas in the hospital so that people can be seen, assessed and treated as required. We are now in a position to start the “recovery phase” of elective work in the NHS.
We will continue to use telephone and video consultation with our patients wherever possible. If we need to see you face to face then we will make arrangements for this. We are having to work in different ways, for example following social distancing rules. This means that there will be an impact on the number of people we can operate on or see in a clinic. It’s therefore likely that there will be a longer wait for someone’s appointment.
You can be assured that we will review referrals as we receive them and if you have a high clinical need you will be seen as soon as is possible. Suspected cancer referrals will be given the highest priority.
Thank you for your understanding and support at this time.