People urged to access NHS help if needed
A Black Country mother-of-three is encouraging people to seek hospital help if they need it – after undergoing an MRI scan within 24 hours of referral.
Michelle Carolan, from the Dudley area, was experiencing neck and shoulder pain, and called her local GP to seek advice.
She was called in for an appointment and just hours later, she found herself at the Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust's City Hospital's Birmingham Treatment Centre having a crucial test.
Michelle, who is a managing director at Sandwell and West Birmingham Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said: "The service was efficient and safe. I initially contacted my GP and was seen promptly. I was referred to City Hospital to have the MRI scan because there was very little waiting time.
“Before the appointment I was contacted by a healthcare worker from the trust who asked me questions about coronavirus to determine if I had symptoms and was a risk. Once it was established I wasn’t experiencing symptoms, I was offered an appointment.”
The 45-year-old added: “When I came into the hospital I was screened again for coronavirus, and was granted access by a security guard. I came into very little contact with anyone, and didn’t see other patients during my time there.
“I was in hospital for a total of 50 minutes. It was a smooth process and I didn’t feel anxious or stressed about coronavirus during that time.”
Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, which runs City Hospital, reopened the Birmingham Treatment Centre, where outpatient appointments and elective surgery are carried out, in May.
Assessment
Liam Kennedy, chief operating officer from the trust, said: “We are open for business and are doing everything we can to ensure a safe environment for our patients.
“We carry out an assessment of all patients prior to and upon arrival to check if they have symptoms. When they need to be seen, we ensure that the patients and staff are wearing the right PPE; including face masks, gloves, aprons and visors, where necessary. We educate patients in the correct way to wear PPE and about social distancing.
“Our staff observe social distancing and we have frequent and thorough cleaning in place, which is especially important between each and every patient.
“We want people to feel comfortable when visiting any of our sites for treatment, that includes our GP practices, as well as clinics based in our community and hospital settings.”
