May 2020 – Lenmed Private hospitals and our doctors have taken all the relevant precautions to enable safe consultations and admission during the COVID-19 outbreak.

It is very important that you stay at home as much as possible during the COVID-19 pandemic, however, this should never be at the detriment of your health and optimal management of any chronic conditions that you have. Seeking help if you are unwell or have health concerns, discussing your health with your medical specialist and keeping up with your chronic conditions is crucial to your wellbeing.

The safety of our patients, employees, doctors and community members is our priority and some of the safety precautions we have put in place to ensure this are as follows:

• Screening – everyone is screened on every entrance to the hospital.
• Visitor management – no visitors are permitted; exceptions are made for 1 parent of NICU and paediatric patients and at the hospital manager’s discretion – family members of gravely ill patients. NO VISITORS ARE PERMITTED INTO COVID-19 AREAS OF THE HOSPITAL UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.
• PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) – Lenmed has sufficient and appropriate PPE for employees and doctors.
• Masks – Lenmed has a ‘no-mask, no-entry’ policy at all its facilities. Masks are available for purchase at the entrance to all facilities. Lenmed has supplied masks to all employees, including non-patient facing staff.
• Hand washing – Hand basins, soap and water are available for washing of hands regularly in all bathrooms.
• Hand sanitising – Lenmed has made enough hand sanitiser available throughout our hospitals.
• Social distancing – Limiting the number of people as well as the movement of people within each facility aids social distancing. A limited number of people are permitted into the hospitals and areas withing the hospitals at any given time.
• Appropriate and comprehensive documentation, plans, pathways, guidelines, training, procedures and protocols relevant for each role within the organisation has been implemented and is checked regularly.
• Clear roles and responsibilities have been defined.
• Checklists, monitoring and tracking tools for proper management of the pandemic within our organisation have been implemented and are actively managed.
• Consistent consultation with the applicable industry bodies, government and the NICD remaining informed of the latest COVID-19 developments.
• Cleaning – all surfaces are cleaned and disinfected with approved disinfection/sanitising products on a regular basis (at least every 4 hours).
• Meetings – meetings/gatherings are not permitted during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Safeguards have been applied throughout the hospital, including doctors’ rooms. You may find slight inconvenience in having to wait in your car or our screening area to be called by your doctor or for rooms to be disinfected between patients, this is all to ensure yours, our employees, other patients and doctors’ safety.

When planning for your doctor consultation or admission, please note the following –

• Avoid the transfer of paper, enquire as to what information can be filled out at home and emailed through to the relevant parties prior to your arrival.
• Limited numbers of people will be permitted into the hospital and doctors’ rooms at a time, ensure you bring additional warm clothing as you may have to wait in our screening tent.
• Unless you require assistance, no one will be allowed to accompany you into the hospital.
• Bring as little into the hospital with you, only essentials will be permitted.
• Ensure you have at least 70% alcohol-based sanitiser to disinfect objects such as your mobile devices regularly.

Each hospital also has specific COVID-19 areas which are strictly managed with only certain persons allowed entrance. Anyone entering will undergo stringent processes to don and doff PPE and disinfect prior to returning to the ‘low risk’ areas in the hospital.

Please be assured –

• The safety of our patients, employees, visitors, doctors and community members is our priority
• Our staff and facilities are prepared for the COVID-19 outbreak
• Our procedures are aligned with the NICD guidelines

Patients with severe COVID-19 symptoms, such as shortness of breath, are requested to call ahead to the Accident and Emergency Department to arrange for an assessment and/or possible admission. All other patients, including those with mild symptoms or those seeking testing are requested to contact their GPs for advice.

For further information please visit our website at www.lenmed.com, follow us on social media or contact Group Marketing and Communications Manager at [email protected].