Published on 29 June 2020
We want your views on changes to our outpatient departments as we move to a new way of working because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The outpatients transformation project team are looking to recruit more people to their Patient Experience Group, to help influence how the hospitals are reducing the risks of infection and keeping staff and patients safe.
The group meets virtually or over email and can help shape decisions about appointment timings, as well as alterations to the physical make-up of the departments at the Trust’s hospitals across east Kent.
Project manager Adem Ozyurt said: “We are working hard on continuing to re-open some of our outpatient clinics, in a way that makes sure we can keep everyone safe.
“As well as measures we have already put in place, including temperature checks and hand sanitisers at the entrances, we are looking at how patients move around the departments, and how we can build in time to clean newly reopened clinical areas regularly.
“In all of this we want to make sure the patient voice is heard and that our service works for the people who use it.”
Some patients will continue to have their appointments by telephone or video call, to help keep the numbers of people in the hospital to a minimum.
Those who do attend are asked to do so alone, unless accompanying a child or vulnerable adult.
Some parts of the hospitals may have one-way systems, and people are asked to walk on the left in corridors. Face coverings must also be worn and anyone with symptoms of coronavirus – a new continuous cough, a high temperature or loss of taste or smell – is asked to stay at home.
Adem said: “We want to check that our changes make sense for patients, so we want as many people as possible who use the outpatients departments to join the Patient Experience Group.”
The group has already helped with user guides for video calls and took part in a demonstration of the technology.
For more information or to get involved, email Adem at a.ozyurt@nhs.net
