Information on Coronavirus also known as COVID-19

*From Monday 15 June 2020, all visitors to the hospital are required to wear a face covering or mask. For more information, click here.

We understand that you may be concerned about the ongoing coronavirus situation.

Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has taken steps to protect patients, staff and visitors and maintain the running of its services as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, including introducing restrictions on patient visits and postponing routine operations.

These measures aim to reduce visitor footfall across the hospital – and with it the risk of spreading the virus – and maximise the number of hospital beds available for patients needing emergency care.

This page provides you with updates including actions we are taking to care for patients and reduce the risk of spreading the COVID-19 infection.

Visitors

We are further restricting visiting to our hospital to help tackle the spread of COVID-19 in order to protect both our patients and our staff.

With immediate effect, we will not allow any visitors to our hospital, with a few exceptions:

Maternity – one birth partner only. Strictly no children. More details can be found here.
Paediatrics – one parent/guardian only. Strictly no siblings.
Patients at the end of life – we know that you are very worried about your loved one as we face this national emergency together.During the COVID-19 pandemic, the hospital will be extremely busy doing two main things:

Looking after the patients , including your loved one, whose health, comfort and dignity are most important to us.
Trying to decrease the spread of the serious COVID-19 infection to other people.

Patients with COVID-19 can deteriorate rapidly, so we recommend that you have any important conversations with your loved one at an early stage.

We will try to allow visiting for a patient who is nearing the end of their life if possible and the decision for this will be down to the nurse in charge of the ward. Visiting will be limited to one person only and they will have to be prepared to wear personal protective equipment during their visit. The visitor will then have to self-isolate for 14 days after their visit.

On arrival to any ward or department, all visitors should wash their hands thoroughly (for 20 seconds at least) or use the alcohol gel provided. We would ask that you do the same on leaving the ward.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Should you need to make contact regarding your loved one, then please, wherever possible, do not contact the ward but call our dedicated family information line on 01908 995963 where a member of staff will be available to assist you between the hours of 10am and 6pm daily including weekends and Bank Holidays. Outside of these hours please leave a message and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

Planned appointments and admissions

The hospital has recommenced routine planned surgery and is working with a number of private facilities to increase the hospital’s capacity to see as many patients as they can.

Procedures that were postponed during the COVID-19 pandemic are now being rebooked, prioritising patients in order of clinical need where possible.

All patients having surgery at the hospital are required to self-isolate for 14 days ahead of their procedure, in line with national guidelines. The hospital has contacted patients with scheduled appointments to confirm they are willing to self-isolate for the required period and hundreds of patients have taken the decision to postpone their procedures.

If patients want to discuss the date of their routine planned surgery, we would urge them to contact the hospital to see if there are any opportunities to have their operation sooner.

Outpatients

Milton Keynes University Hospital has now started the process of gradually returning to see routine outpatients following the peak of the Covid-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.

Please be aware of the following points if you have an appointment scheduled or are awaiting an appointment:

During the peak of the pandemic it was necessary for us to cancel a large number of routine outpatient appointments. In order to rebook these patients within order of clinical priorities and length of wait, it will be necessary for us to reschedule further appointments from June onwards to accommodate these previously cancelled patients. All decisions to reschedule patients from June will be made in line with clinical advice.
If you have an appointment booked from June onwards and we need to reschedule it, we will notify you by letter. Some patients may initially be contacted by phone or text message, followed up with a letter.
If your appointment was scheduled between Monday 30 March and Friday 22 May and was cancelled by us, we will soon be in touch to reschedule your appointment with an offer of an appointment by letter. Some patients may initially be contacted by phone or text message, followed up with a letter.
Where medically appropriate, we are changing some face-to-face appointments to telephone or video appointments. If this is applicable to you, you may initially be contacted by phone or text message, followed up with a letter.
All instructions will be on your appointment letter or email for a video appointment.
If you are symptomatic of coronavirus, please do not attend your appointment. Please notify us contacting our Central Booking Office on 01908 997050 in order for us to record this and offer your appointment to another patient.
We are working hard to ensure that social distancing measures are in place for face-to-face appointments. For example, we are ensuring a maximum number of patients in waiting areas at any one time. You may be asked to wait in an alternative waiting area or return to your car whilst waiting to be seen. Please do not arrive more than 10 minutes before your appointment time and only bring someone with you to your appointment if it is absolutely essential. Please limit this to no more than one person.

Thank you for patience and cooperation during this time. If you any questions or queries, please contact the hospital’s Central Booking Office on 01908 997050.

Paediatrics

Our paediatric department is still operating as normal.

If your child is feeling unwell without COVID-19 symptoms, you should still contact you GP practice in order to get a referral into the hospital. Our Paediatric outpatient clinics are still continuing as normal. Our Consultants are assessing whether your child should attend a face-to-face clinic, have a telephone consultation or if your appointment will be rebooked for a later date.

If you are asked to attend a face-to-face appointment, it is important that you do come to the hospital as the consultant will have good reason for wanting to see you. You do not have to walk through the hospital building in order to reach your appointment, there are direct access routes into Milton Mouse and Luing Cowley.

We are taking all necessary precautions to ensure you are safe and are staggering appointments so there are not many people in the waiting room, if you feel uncomfortable waiting inside the building, please ring us when you have arrived on site, stay in your car and we will call you once it is time for your appointment. You may see the nurses wearing personal protective equipment, this is to protect you and other visitors. Appointments should be attended by the patient and ONE parent/carer, no siblings or other family members should be attendance. Should you have any concerns or wish to speak with anyone please contact 01908 997 003.

Maternity Services

If you’re pregnant, you may be unsure how coronavirus (COVID-19) could affect you, your baby and your pregnancy care.

It’s important to tell your midwife or maternity team if you have symptoms of coronavirus. You should also ask them for help with any other concerns as you usually would. For more information click here.

Your baby should have had a routine physical examination at 6 to 8 weeks, usually by your GP. This screening opportunity may be missed due to the current circumstances. For tips and advice on what to look out for, click here.

Important advice for your family

Everyone is being reminded to follow Public Health England advice to:

Always carry tissues with you and use them to catch your cough or sneeze. Then bin the tissue and was your hands or use hand sanitiser gel if you are out and about.
Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after using public transport. Use a sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and moth with unwashed hands.
Avoid close contact with people who are unwell.

For support with infant feeding, please visit our FAQs page.

Email a letter and photos to your loved one

Milton Keynes University Hospital has launched a new email service for families and friends which can be used to send letters and photographs to patients.

During this time, when you are not able to visit your loved one in hospital, you may wish to email them a letter and one or two photographs.

To do this, please email us at [email protected] attaching your letter and photograph(s). Please also provide your loved one’s date of birth and full name.

Upon receipt, we will print out your letter and laminate any photographs and deliver them to your loved one.

If you have any questions about emailing a letter or if you need any help, please call our PALS team on 01908 995954.

Eaglestone Restaurant and League of Friends Shop

Please note that Eaglestone Restaurant and the League of Friends shop have been closed to the public, including patients, until further notice. Visitors and patients can still buy food and beverages from Costa, Hello Fresh and Subway in the main entrance. Entry to the restaurant is currently limited to MKUH staff and staff from Oxford University Hospitals, CNWL, MK Council and South Central Ambulance Service only.

Please note, outlets in the main entrance are card-only payments for the foreseeable future.

For more information and support

All the latest information relating to coronavirus can be found on the NHS website and the official UK Government website. This includes information about the virus and what to do if you develop symptoms.

Information for children is available on the BBC Newsround website, including specific advice if children are feeling upset by the news.

Information updated 13/04/2020