By New helpline to aid contact with hospital wards during pandemic
A new hospital helpline has been opened to help relatives get information about their loved-ones during the Covid pandemic.
Absences have led to some wards running without reception staff and made it difficult for people to get through, according to Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust that runs Grimsby and Scunthorpe hospitals.
“Please bear with us at this difficult time as we are aware that we are unable to answer phones and communicate with relatives as often or in as timely a fashion as we would like to,” said a spokesperson for the Trust.
“Staff absences have led to some wards running without reception staff and a reduced number of staff, therefore, patient care is our priority, sometimes not enabling us to get to phones in time.”
It is requested that all communication is channelled through one person – the next of kin – to reduce the number of calls into the wards.
If you are the nominated next of kin and cannot get through or get an answer when you call the wards to enquire about your loved one, you can contact the Patient Contact Helpline on 03033 306666 between the hours of 9am and 5pm, seven days a week.
You should still try contacting the ward in the first instance.
This number is manned by non-clinical volunteer staff who will take messages and deliver them to relatives, or help you to locate your loved one.
This team is not able to share clinical information, however, they are able to get messages to the clinical team looking after your relatives, advise you on other options for communication, such as video calling, and will be able to organise drop-offs and collections of belongings for patients.
Alternatively, an email address – nlg-tr.twpatientcontacthelpline@nhs.net – will be manned throughout the same hours.
The Trust added: “Please note this helpline has been put in place to support connecting people for this period of the pandemic, following feedback from the public that this has become a challenge.
“This is a short-term solution whilst we see this surge in activity across our hospitals.
“We continue to allow visiting in exceptional circumstances.”
More information about the visiting restrictions is available on the Trust website https://www.nlg.nhs.uk/news/updated-visiting-november-5
