As part of the Royal Free London’s response to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak, we are putting measures in place to protect patients, visitors and staff. In order to reduce hospital visits, we are making some changes to outpatient appointments.

If your appointment is after Monday 16 March, you will be contacted by the trust by text, phone or letter if there are any changes to your appointment.

Changes will include switching appointments to a virtual appointment where possible (either by telephone or video), or where clinical teams feel it is safe to do so, rearranging or cancelling appointments.

If your appointment is changed to a telephone appointment, we will aim to call you at the time and date of your appointment - we apologise if we are delayed. Please note the number may appear as a private or unknown caller. Please do pick up.

If you do not hear from us, please visit the hospital as planned for your appointment.

If you, or someone living in the same house as you, develops any of the following symptoms:

  • a new, continuous cough - this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or three or more coughing episodes in a 24 hour period (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
  • a high temperature - this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure temperature)
  • a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
  1. Please stay indoors and keep away from others. Please do not come in for your hospital appointment

  2. Visit: www.111.nhs.uk/COVID-19 for advice on next steps on self isolating.

  3. If you were due to have an appointment, please call your hospital service using the telephone number at the top of your appoinment letter to advise them of the situation when possible. If your appointment was rearranged or cancelled you do not need to get in touch with us to let us know you are self-isolating.

  4. If you feel you cannot cope with your symptoms at home or your condition gets worse, please visit: www.111.nhs.uk/COVID-19. If you cannot get help online, please call 111.

 

Page updated: 19 May 2020