We are publishing the latest information we have on the coronavirus for kidney patients at St George's Hospital as we get it. In a fast changing situation keep in touch! Make sure you have your contact details up-to-date with the NHS; register with us for the latest information (details below)

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Start here for the index to all our advice on coronavirus.

 

Below are all the changes we have made to our articles (in reverse chronological order) so you can keep up with what is new.

 

4th & 5th November UPDATE

On 31 October, the Prime Minister announced new national restrictions to help control the spread of COVID-19.

On the 5th November these new National restrictions came into effect and now apply to England:

• you cannot meet socially with anyone indoors unless they’re in your support bubble
• there are changes to how many people you can meet outside
• you must not travel in the UK or overseas, unless for a specific reason, like education, work or a caring responsibility

On the 4th November, the government sent out a new (third) letter to patients considered extremely vulnerable to the virus. This letter provided new guidance to those previously shielding. More information can be found here.

Clinically extremely vulnerable people are advised to stay at home, except for exercise or essential health appointments.

The new national restrictions are rules that apply to everyone and which everyone must follow. The full details of these rules can be found online at https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus.

 

4th & 9th September UPDATE

The Government has updated national (England) guidance and laws to restrict the gathering of people of more than 6 people in 2 or more households - known as the "rule of 6".

It has also updated its guidance to those people considered clinically extremely vulnerable to COVID-19.

Please check this out. In particular, it contains information about a COVID-secure workplace and help from NHS responders for things such as food and prescription deliveries.

Please also find an up-to-date Easy Read guide for people who were shielding, produced by the government.

 

23rd June UPDATE

The Government has now made a major announcement for those shielding, relaxing some restrictions on the 6th July and announcing a pause to shielding on the 1 August subject to the prevailing infection rates and prevalence of the virus.

It has also sent out a new letter to those shielding providing information about these changes.

• For more about the shielding read here.
• For a copy of the letter read here.

 

8th June UPDATE

The Government has updated it guidance for those shielding. In particular on exercise away from home and on how to deal with children returning to school and household members returning to work.

• Shielding

 

24th April UPDATE

We've added a brief update on the dialysis supplies situation at St George's Hospital from the renal team following coverage in the national press.

 

16th April UPDATE

We've added a copy of the recent letter that was sent to transplant patients and an associated letter for GPs to make sure the patient is on the "extremely vulnerable" COVID at Risk register. This entitles you to support and preferential online grocery shopping slots with the supermarkets.

Please let us know if you have received a similar letter as a dialysis patient. Email us at info@sgkpa.org.uk

15th April UPDATE

We restructured all the information now available and placed it under this Overview.

Topics include

• Act NOW!
• Shielding
• Support for shopping, medication and other essentials
• Money worries
• Medical advice on coronavirus
• St George's Hospital information about coronavirus
• Trusted information about coronavirus

 

12th April UPDATE.

We have added a new article covering support available to patients designated as "extremely vulnerable". That is dialysis and transplant patients.

https://www.sgkpa.org.uk/main/support-for-extremely-vulnerable-renal-patients

This article contains advice on food shopping, home support, money, benefits, emergencies, your mental wellbeing and many other issues. Let us know whats missing!

 

9th April UPDATE

Advice on the letter sent by the NHS entitled "Advice to keep you safe from coronavirus" to extremely vulnerable patients. The article contains an example of the letter and say why it is important and what to do if you should have received one and have not.

https://www.sgkpa.org.uk/main/coronavirus-advice-letters-for-the-extremely-vulnerable-from-the-nhs1

 

29th March UPDATE.

The following updates have been made to the article:

• Adding a new update from the hospital from the 28th March
• This update contains information about the suspension of the transplantation programme and additional dialysis facilities at the hospital.
• Adding links for this staying at home or shielding themselves

 

22nd March Article

The original article contains:

• An update from the renal clinical team about changes to our service. 21st March.
• A Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section that seeks to answer the most common questions you may have.
• Links to trusted national information sources
• A brief guide on how to avoid the pitfalls of fake news.

 

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As we receive more information on changes at the hospital and nationally we will post it here and on Facebook.

To keep in touch with the latest on coronavirus and all ourmother news, please register here: