15 May

As the situation around coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to evolve, we are doing everything we can to protect the health and wellbeing of our patients, members of the public and employees.

Supporting the NHS

The McIndoe Centre has been supporting the NHS, working in close coordination with Queen Victoria Hospital (QVH) and their clinical staff. Since the beginning of April, we have been treating patients suffering from maxillofacial and plastics trauma, as well as urgent eye conditions. This has helped provide capacity for QVH to become the regional cancer hub for breast, skin and head and neck cancers.

To date, we have performed more than 250 operations. The nature of many of these injuries reflect the current lockdown situation; we have seen a rise in injuries resulting from domestic incidents, dog and cat attacks and power tool accidents.

We have performed these surgeries in our theatres, with one theatre available 24 hours a day to ensure limb threatening injuries can be treated immediately. Minor operations have taken place in our treatment rooms on an outpatient basis.

Major case plastic surgery reconstructions have also taken place, some even involving surgery techniques pioneered by Sir Archibald McIndoe on this exact site. We are privileged to honour his legacy and mark his 120th birthday anniversary that took place earlier this month (May 4).

» Read our CEO statement

Visitors Policy Update

In order to protect our patients and our staff, we have taken the unfortunate decision of introducing a no visiting regime* in line with the NHS. Patients requiring individual carer support will be permitted in agreement with senior clinical staff.

* Exceptions to this will be made on an individual’s needs assessment and decisions will be made in advance made by the senior clinical team. Please do not attend site if we do not have your name as the nominated visitor as we will have to turn you away. Visiting times will be strictly restricted to 1 hour only. 

Symptoms of COVID-19

Following advice published by NHS, please do not leave your home if you have either:

  • high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
  • new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
  • loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you've noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal

No one in your household should leave home if any one person has symptoms. 

Find out how to get a test, and how long to isolate, at nhs.uk/coronavirus

See latest guidance from Public Health England

Prevention

Public Health England (PHE) recommends that the following general cold and flu precautions are taken to help prevent people from catching and spreading COVID-19:

  • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze.
  • Put used tissues in the bin straight away
  • Wash your hands with soap and water often – use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available.
  • Try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

Useful Links

Public Health England government guidance

NHS 111 online coronavirus service

NHS Stay at Home Guidance

Page last reviewed on 21/05/2020