COVID-19 restart. We are sorry for any of our patients whose surgery has been delayed during the latest wave of the pandemic. We have experienced marked disruption with operations due to the NHS takeover of the operating facilities. The NHS arrangement comes to an end at the end of March so we will be working hard to reschedule anyone whose surgery has been delayed. Out patient consultations and diagnostic imaging are continuing without any disruption.
During the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic in the spring we were closed in line with guidelines from the Scottish administration, to help the NHS and to ensure the safety of our patients. All our facilities are now open. Many of the private sector operating theatres were contracted to the NHS while our services were halted. These contracts ended on 1 October so all patients who had their operations postponed are now being offered dates for surgery this year.
As you would expect, things are different as we do everything we can to ensure a COVID safe environment. Many things from our own clothing, to walking routes in the hospitals, to the layout of seating in the waiting area, have changed.
None of our facilities treat COVID patients and you will be asked screening questions before entering the premises. If you undergo surgery you will have a COVID test three to four days beforehand and be asked to isolate between the test and the surgery.
