COVID-19 update

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted both NHS and private medical care across the UK. For a short while, only emergency life-saving and urgent cancer operations were being carried out. The incidence of COVID in the community has now improved, and hospitals have carefully restarted planned elective surgical procedures. The Oxford Manor Hospital has been maintained as a COVID free Hub where both NHS and private operations are carried out with very low risks of contracting COVID. There is still some risk to patients and healthcare workers of contracting COVID-19. Mr Soonawalla would therefore suggest that your out-patient consultation is carried out remotely, unless necessary.

The decision about whether to proceed with surgery will depend on your individual risks related to COVID, that presently appear to be low, balanced against the risks of prolonged delay to your medical condition. Mr Soonawalla will consider these issues and discuss them with you. If you have any additional questions or concerns regarding the decision for surgery, please feel free to raise them.

Once a decision has been made to proceed with surgery, there are several precautions that you need to take to minimise your risks.

  1. Look after your health and get regular exercise, stop smoking if you do so.
  2. You and your family should take the precautions recommended by the Government to maintain social distancing and handwashing for at least 2 weeks prior to the date of your operation. This includes:
    • Stay at home as much as possible
    • Work from home if you can
    • Limit contact with other people
    • Keep a safe distance if you go out
    • Wash your hands regularly
    • Wear a face covering on public transport
    • Shop safely
    • Exercise safely
    • Travel safely
  3. If you or a family member suffers from fever, cough, sore throat, malaise or fatigue, please call your team to discuss whether your operation should be postponed.
  4. You will be called to the hospital 2-3 days prior to surgery for a swab test to check for coronavirus. If this test show that you carry the virus, it would not be safe to proceed with surgery. Your surgery would then be rescheduled for a later period.
  5. After undergoing the COVID test until surgery, you should carefully isolate at home till you come to hospital for surgery.
  6. When you are discharged home after your operation, please remember to enforce the same rigorous social distancing and handwashing precautions to stay safe.

We wish you well during this difficult period.

Oxford COVID-19 update