University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire Trust takes infection control very seriously. We have robust policies in place to reduce the risks of patients contracting infections, including MRSA, while they are in one of our hospitals.
We also consider a clean hospital to be essential and invest millions of pounds every year ensuring we keep our wards and departments clean. Our wards are cleaned several times a day and we have a rapid response team for spillages. We also try to ensure our hand gel dispensers are always filled, however if you find one empty please do not hesitate to contact a member of the ward staff who will be happy to arrange for it to be replenished.
You can read about what other stringent measures we take to protect you from infection in our leaflet called 'Reducing the risk of infection'.
The Trust’s dedicated Infection Control Team, made up of a senior doctor and six senior nurses, spearheads our efforts to protect patients against MRSA.
All staff at University Hospital and the Hospital of St Cross who have direct patient contact are required to be 'bare below the elbows' to ensure good infection control and comply with latest guidance from the Department of Health.
The new dress code means those colleagues having direct patient contact (inpatient or outpatient) are required to wear short sleeves or ensure that their long sleeves are securely rolled up. This ensures that thorough hand washing and use of the alcohol hand gels can be easily and effectively carried out.
White coats are not allowed and ties should either not be worn or tucked into shirts. Other than wedding rings, no jewellery should be worn including wrist watches.
In the unlikely event that a patient does have a infection, we also have a number of leaflets explaining what we will do to minimise the impact on you and your relatives. You can read the leaflets by simply clicking on the links below:
MRSA: Information for patients and relatives
Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL) Information for Patients and relatives
Clostridium difficile: Information for patients
Isolation and barrier nursing
Pre-operative MRSA Screening Information for Patients
At University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire we now screen patients for MRSA who are going to have an operation. The Trust also screens patients that are at high risk of carrying MRSA.
Andy Hardy, Chief Executive said: "The University Hospitals of Coventry and Warwickshire are committed to reducing infection rates. The MRSA screening of patients before their elected operation is now fully underway and each month we will display our compliance with this process on the hospital's website."
Read our policy on screening, prevention of and management of patients with MRSA.
A tiny proportion of patients admitted to one of the Trust’s hospitals are diagnosed with MRSA. The hospitals' top priority is to continually improve our record at controlling any MRSA outbreak. The Chief Executive and the Trust Board are committed to a zero tolerance approach, and over the last three months the Trust has implemented full MRSA screening to all elected patients.
Patients who are most likely to be carrying MRSA are washed daily in powerful anti-bacterial soap and are given a nasal ointment proven to kill the bacteria as soon as they are admitted to one of our hospitals. This treatment only stops if tests confirm they are not carrying the bacteria. Patients who are found to be carrying MRSA are isolated and are given stronger medication to destroy the bacteria. This treatment only stops when tests confirm they no longer have MRSA.
MRSA can be treated using drugs. We are extremely careful about which medicines we use to treat MRSA infections. Patients are only given the strongest medicines when absolutely necessary. This reduces the risk of new drug-resistant strains of the bacteria emerging.
Our staff take great care to clean their hands with medicated lotions proven to kill MRSA before examining patients. There are over 1,500 alcohol gel dispensers across our two hospitals, for use by patients, staff and visitors. Everybody is urged to clean their hands immediately before and after they come into contact with patients. Patients are urged to ask staff if they have washed their hands before their examination. Cleaning your hands with soap and water or with the medicated lotions at the end of every patient’s bed and in every hospital ward reduces the risk of infection.
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IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON BLOOD TESTING DUE TO COVID-19
If you are experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, e.g. fever, loss of taste or continuous new cough, please DO NOT attend for a blood test.
Earlier this year, the Government revised the guidance on Shielding for CEV patients. All those who have been identified as CEV have been advised to follow the same guidance as everyone else, whilst potentially thinking about extra precautions you could take to reduce your chance of catching COVID-19.
Taking into account this guidance, and the evidence that most patients have now resumed having their blood tests at their usual preferred location, UHCW will no longer be providing the Shielding phlebotomy service from Monday 13 December 2021. You will need to make arrangements to get your blood tests done, as you did prior to the pandemic at locations across Coventry and Warwickshire at www.uhcw.nhs.uk/bloodtests If your specialist has requested a blood test which is due to be taken prior to Monday 13th December, you can expect it to take place at a ‘Pop-up’ clinic, as before. Any blood tests required after this date will need to be a booked appointment.
You can keep up to date with the latest advice from the Government and from UHCW on the following website: www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19
Click on the map for information about phlebotomy clinics in Coventry. You can book an appointment online at the locations in red.
Please book an appointment before attending for a blood test. Click on the ‘Book Online’ button above. Booking an appointment helps patients, their carers and family members to plan their hospital visit better, helping to reduce clinic waiting times and enabling patients to be seen much more quickly.
Location: Outpatients Department, on the ground floor. Opening hours: 8am-4.45pm, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays).
Children under 16 years old will need to book online here.
Please book an appointment before attending for a blood test, click on the ‘Book Online’ button above. Patients from Rugby and the surrounding areas are able to access the Friends Blood Taking Unit at the Hospital of St Cross.
Referrals for blood tests can be from GP's, practice nurses or from hospital consultants. Patients are also able to leave other samples, such as urine, which have been collected at home, at the hospital's Pathology Reception.
Location: Near Brookfield House, just off North Road - map here. Opening hours: The blood taking clinic sessions for adults and children are listed below:
Monday -Friday 7am-4:45pm Appointment only
Wednesday Evening 5pm-7pm Suspended due to COVID
Saturday Morning 7am-10pm Suspended due to COVID
April 2020 NEW - This Clinic is now by appointment. Please book an appointment before attending for a blood test. Click on the ‘Book Online’ button above.
Address: Stoney Stanton Road, Coventry CV1 4FS Location: Access is via the main doors, the Phlebotomy team are in Area A. Opening hours: Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays). 8am–4.45pm
Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT)
Specialist Tests - There are a small number of specialist tests where blood needs to be taken on a hospital site as the sample must be transferred to the laboratory rapidly for the test to be undertaken. Click here for a list of these specialist tests and to find out more.