Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic The Huntercombe Group have been fully committed to making sure we keep all our residents, patients and staff as safe as possible.
As we have now moved from the second national lockdown into the tiered system, we are making decisions about how best to balance the desire to visit patients or residents, with the need to minimise risk of infection. We are making these decisions based on a number of factors: the tiered system as relevant to the locations, the number of recent infections on site and whether the site has been declared an ‘outbreak site’, the vulnerability of our patients or residents at that site, and all the local guidance (e.g. from public health teams).
If at all possible, we would always ask that visits are facilitated through virtual / video-conferencing means as this helps us hugely to minimise footfall at our sites and therefore reduce the risk of infection. However, on those occasions when a face to face visit in person is facilitated, services will do so subject to an appointment system, social distancing and the wearing of a mask. Depending on risk assessments, the visit may be limited to outdoor areas. You are asked not to visit if you have been in contact with someone who is symptomatic or have recently experienced symptoms yourself.
Our staff continue to do all they can to ensure that life in our services remains as optimal as possible for everyone that we look after. We will also do everything we can to communicate our visiting arrangements with you as proactively as possible.
We really appreciate your support with these measures. We are, of course, closely following and complying with the Public Health authorities and all associated guidance to ensure that we keep our residents and patients safe and that our staff are supported to continue to deliver great care.
Dr Amlan Basu
FRCPsych
Medical Director
The Huntercombe Group
