Information on COVID-19

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 during the COVID-19 pandemic, including introducing restrictions on patient visits..

These measures aim to reduce visitor footfall across the hospital and reduce the spread.

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.

COVID-19 Vaccinations

Having delivered over 30,000 vaccinations since opening in December our vaccination centre is now closed as community vaccination hubs are now delivering COVID-19 vaccinations across the area. If you require a COVID-19 vaccination, book your vaccination here.

If you are a member of MKUH staff, you will be emailed information about how to receive your vaccination in the community. If you work for one of our partner organisations or a community healthcare provider, please contact your organisation directly to find out how to receive your vaccine.

NHS Health and Social Care staff – Second Vaccines

If you had your first vaccination at the Trust and you are within 11 to 12 weeks since your first dose and have not received an appointment, please supply the following details to [email protected] and state you are booking for your second vaccine:

• Full Name
• Date of Birth
• NHS Number (if available)
• Email Address
• Gender
• Home Postcode
• Mobile number
• Date of first vaccine
• Location of first vaccine
• Type of vaccine (eg Pfizer/Astra Zeneca)

You will then be contacted directly to book your second vaccination in a regional vaccination centre.

Visitors

Visiting restrictions are in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Details can be found here: Visiting a patient – Milton Keynes University Hospital (mkuh.nhs.uk)

Thank you for your cooperation.

Outpatient appointments

If you are attending the hospital you must come alone UNLESS you require the assistance of a carer/guardian. Maternity outpatient appointments may differ, please click here for more information.

Contacting patients

Should you need to make contact regarding your loved one, then please call the ward direct or call the main switchboard on 01908 660033.

Communication regarding your loved one

As you are aware, with very few exceptions, visitors are not able to attend the hospital to see their relatives.

During these unprecedented times, as we are sure you can appreciate, every ward is extremely busy caring for our patients. Consequently, wards may not always be able to answer incoming telephone calls promptly. Thank you for your patience.

Virtual visiting

Where possible, our wards will try and set up a video call with a patient and even supply with a device to do so. Please ask the ward if you would like to do this.

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.

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

Thank you for using the maternity services at Milton Keynes Maternity Unit. We would like to update you on the most recent changes we have made to our maternity services in response to the COVID-19 outbreak and most recent government announcements.

The current COVID-19 pandemic means we are required to make difficult decisions relating to the service that we provide. We make these decisions based on our duty of care both to you as expectant parents and to the staff who work for our NHS services.

We ask, at the moment, that you continue to only have one designated person who will be your support person throughout your pregnancy and birth care. We ask that you do not swap this person with any other unless they become unwell themselves and so are unable to attend to support you.

Should this person become unwell during your labour and birth and has to return home, an alternative person may attend.

For more information on the latest changes to your Maternity Services at MKUH, click here.

COVID-19 Vaccination During Pregnancy

The COVID-19 vaccines available in the UK have been shown to be effective and to have a good safety profile. These vaccines do not contain live coronavirus and cannot infect a pregnant woman or her unborn baby in the womb.

All women of childbearing age must read this leaflet before they go for vaccination

• An easy-read version of this leaflet is available for people with a learning disability and their carers.
• British Sign Language videos are available to view.
• A Braille version of this leaflet is available to order.
• Paper copies of this leaflet are available to order for free or download in the following languages:
• English, English large print, Albanian, Arabic, Bengali, Bulgarian, Chinese, Estonian, Farsi, Greek, Gujarati, Hindi, Latvian, Lithuanian, Panjabi, Polish, Portuguese Brazilian, Romanian, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Turkish, Twi, Ukrainian and Urdu.

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.

Eaglestone Restaurant and MK Friends Shop

Please note that Eaglestone Restaurant and the MK 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. The Friends Shop has launched an online store for patients and their friends and family. Patients can order from their ward or their relatives can order items to be sent to them whilst they are in hospital. There is a range of snacks, drinks, newspapers and magazines as well as essential toiletries on offer. Take a look here.

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.