“Minor Covid symptoms” not a reason to go to the PEH

Thursday 04 February 2021

The President of Health and Social Care has appealed to people with Covid-like symptoms to stop turning up at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital unannounced, unless their symptoms are severe.

There have been instances of people arriving at the PEH with symptoms and during the latest media briefing people were urged to limit this to only those who need essential care.

Some people have arrived at the Emergency Department at the PEH without needing emergency or essential care. We’re being told that it’s far better for the majority of us to rest at home or contact a medical surgery.

“If your Covid symptoms are serious then of course, please refer to the hospital,” said Deputy Al Brouard during the latest Civil Contingencies Authority briefing.

“But, if your Covid symptoms do not require acute levels of care, you should not be coming to the hospital in the first instance.”

Pictured: “Our colleagues at GP practices are ready and able to assist you,” said Deputy Brouard.

It comes as HSC takes urgent measures to move health and care workers' second vaccination appointments to Beau Sejour in order to minimise non-essential visits to the hospital.

A statement has since been released by HSC's Medical Director, Dr Peter Rabey, who said the measures were being taken to protect front-line staff. 

“We want to assure islanders that we currently have sufficient capacity in the hospital for treating Covid patients for those rare cases where hospital admission and treatment is deemed essential.”

The issue is not with hospital capacity, he said, it’s about protecting PEH staff.

Deputy Brouard added: “While we have a lot of Covid protection measures in place, we should absolutely not be putting our hospital at risk.”

Pictured: Public Health will not ask someone to recover at home if they need essential treatment or specialised care. 

If you are a Covid patient getting to and from the hospital, it has been confirmed that it’s ok for a member of the same household to drive you to and from the site, providing social distancing measures are taken. 

Visitors to the PEH are heavily restricted and patients who are due to attend the PEH - and who show any Covid symptoms - are being asked to call well in advance to discuss the situation.