NHS Lanarkshire is asking people to help keep Covid away from healthcare settings.
Although there has been a recent easing of restrictions, health services – hospitals, GP practices, dentists and pharmacists - continue to be provided in line with national FACTS guidance to keep everyone safe.
Dr Jane Burns, NHS Lanarkshire medical director, said: “With the easing of restrictions, and reports that the new Covid variant is easier to pass from person to person, it is important that we continue to wear face coverings, maintain good hand hygiene and to keep our distance from other people.
“The A&Es across Lanarkshire have seen a large increase in the number of people attending. This, along with patients being accompanied to appointments, makes physical distancing very difficult.
“People can help us with this by attending all health settings on their own in almost all cases. The only exceptions are children and vulnerable adults, who should be accompanied by one adult. If someone has driven another person to A&E or an appointment, we would ask the driver to stay in their car or to pick the patient up after they have been seen.
“I would also like remind anyone with a non-life threatening condition, who would usually go to A&E, that they should call NHS 24 on 111 first, day or night. This will also help to avoid overcrowding.”
Like other hospitals across Scotland, NHS Lanarkshire has reintroducing visiting, by appointment, with at least one named person for each patient.
While visitors can have close contact with their loved one, they are reminded to adhere to physical distancing in communal areas of the hospital, wear face coverings and frequently wash or sanitise their hands.
Dr Burns added: “I would strongly encourage visitors to get a Covid test before coming to hospital to help keen them and their loved ones safe.
“A list of all the local testing sites is available on the NHS Lanarkshire website at www.nhslanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk
“Information on testing, including how to order a testing kit, is available at www.nhsinform.scot/testing. If you are unable to order a testing kit online you can phone 119.
“With your help we can reduce the risk of Covid-19 infection in our healthcare settings.”
