COVID-19 Information: Attending x-ray
Date issued: February 2022
Review date: February 2024
Ref: C-435 v2
PDF: attending x ray final February 2022 v2.pdf [pdf] 163KB
We recognise that you may be worried about attending for an x-ray, but please be reassured that we are doing everything we can to help you stay as safe as possible when attending Derriford hospital or one of our other x-ray facilities.
We are continuously monitoring what is happening with the pandemic. All planned appointments are subject to developments in the pandemic response and appointments
may need to be rescheduled. We apologise if you are affected by this. Information on the changes we are making are available and kept updated on our website here:
www.plymouthhospitals.nhs.uk/coronavirus
What to expect
We have taken a number of steps to reduce the risk of COVID-19 being transmitted in our hospital and clinic settings. These include:
• Observing the highest standards of infection prevention and control including our staff wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
• Isolating patients who test positive for COVID-19 or who are suspected of having the virus.
• Encouraging patients and staff to practice 2m physical distancing from others, wherever possible.
• Suspending our normal visiting arrangements so we reduce the amount of people coming into Derriford Hospital.
• Moving services such as orthopaedic surgery and emergency care for minor injuries away from our main Derriford Hospital site.
These measures help us to significantly reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19. Quality of care, patient safety and experience continue to be our number one priority.
Please note that, in addition to the above, all patients undergoing diagnostic tests and imaging scans, are asked to please follow comprehensive social-distancing and handhygiene measures for 14 days before coming in for your planned x-ray (see government advice on social distancing on the nhs.uk website). This helps us keep you
and others attending our hospital and clinics as safe as possible.
When attending for your x-ray, you will be asked to take steps to reduce the risk of transmitting COVID-19 for your safety and the safety of our staff and other patients.
Please read the information below.
COVID-19 Patient Information
Face coverings
In line with Government advice, please wear a face covering to your appointment. Please bring a plastic bag with you to put your face covering into, should you need to take it off as part of your examination or treatment.
Coming in for your x-ray
Please only attend an x-ray appointment if you have no symptoms of COVID-19. If you are worried you may have any of the symptoms, please call NHS 111 for advice. You can find out more about coronavirus at
www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
The main symptoms of COVID-19 or coronavirus are:
• High temperature: this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature).
• New, continuous cough: this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than
usual).
• Loss or change to your sense of smell or taste: this means you’ve noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal
• Most people with coronavirus have at least one of these symptoms.
Regularly and thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds or clean your hands with an alcoholbased hand rub.
Maintain at least 2m distance between yourself and others outside of your household.
Please attend alone if you can, to help us reduce the number of people coming into the hospital. If you have a carer or need someone to come with you, please call the number on your appointment letter to discuss this
Please try to arrive as close to your appointment time as you can.
If you have significant concerns about attending for the check x-ray of your joint replacement(s), please contact one of the arthroplasty team on 01752 433032 or 431506
