COVID-19 update from NHS North East London Commissioning Alliance
Covid-19 cases in north east London continue to rise and our hospitals are feeling the pressure as Covid-19-related patient admissions increase.
Covid-19 is a devastating disease. Please, for your family, friends, for yourself and for the NHS:
- Hands. Face. Space. Ventilate.
- Avoid close, enclosed, crowded spaces
- Self-isolate and get tested if symptomatic
- Follow the Tier guidelines
Remember: the actions you take today will determine how safe and healthy you, your family and friends are over the holidays.
Covid-19 vaccine update
We are making final arrangements to receive the first Covid-19 vaccines to north east London in the next few days, with the intention of starting to vaccinate those identified as the top priority – including our elderly residents and care home staff – as soon as next week, though we don’t expect a Covid-19 vaccine to be widely available until 2021. The rationale for priority groups can be found here: www.gov.uk/government/publications/priority-groups-for-coronavirus-covid-19-vaccination-advice-from-the-jcvi-2-december-2020
The first hospital hub to go live will be Queen’s Hospital in Romford and final preparations are underway for our primary care hubs, with eligible patients already being contacted by GP practices. The programme will start with a limited number of vaccines administered to key priority groups with the expectation that as we head into 2021 we will increasingly deliver vaccines at much smaller scale, like in care homes, and at much larger scale too, through vaccination centres.
A range of information about the vaccine has been published including patient information leaflets, guidance and detailed information about the Pfizer vaccine and this has been brought together here: www.eastlondonhcp.nhs.uk/cv19vacc
How you can help us
During this time of incredible pressure on the NHS, you can help us by:
1. Continue to follow ‘Hands. Face. Space’:
- Hands – wash your hands regularly and for 20 seconds
- Face – wear a face covering in indoor settings where social distancing may be difficult, and where you will come into contact with people you do not normally meet
- Space – stay 2 metres apart from people you do not live with where possible, or 1 metre with extra precautions in place (such as wearing face coverings or increasing ventilation indoors
2. Local A&Es are incredibly busy at the moment, putting significant pressure on health services across our area. If you need medical care and it is not a life-threatening emergency, contact NHS111 first to help us keep you safe and maintain social distancing.
3. Wait to be invited for your Covid-19 vaccine. You will be contacted when it’s the right time to come forward so please don’t seek a vaccine before then.
4. Widely share the government guidance on how to follow the rules and make a ‘Christmas bubble’ between 23 – 27 December: www.gov.uk/government/publications/making-a-christmas-bubble-with-friends-and-family
If you have any queries about our response to the COVID-19 pandemic that you would like covered in future updates, please email thccg.nelcommunications@nhs.net