Coronavirus (COVID-19) update

Private patient services 

To help provide much needed capacity in our hospitals we are reducing the number of private patient services available. If you have any questions or concerns, please email privatepatients@rbht.nhs.uk and we will get back to you as soon as we can. 

Contacting us 

Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) we have had to change the way we provide customer support. The best way to reach us is by emailing privatepatients@rbht.nhs.uk. You can also call us on +44 02031 310 785 Monday to Friday, 9 – 5pm, but be aware we have reduced service and may not be as quick to answer your call as we normally can. We appreciate your patience at this time. 

If you have any questions regarding your diagnostic appointment at 77 Wimpole Street, please call the reception at 0207 351 8101 (8am – 6pm, Monday to Friday) or email diagnosticwimpole@rbht.nhs.uk. 

Patient appointments 

To help prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), your outpatient appointment may be replaced with a telephone or video consultation or postponed to a later date. If this is the case, we will let you know by phone, text message or post, so please make sure you check your usual method of communication with us. The decision to delay, or use telephone or video appointments is being made by the clinical team involved in your care. Thank you for your understanding. 

77 Wimpole Street Diagnostics and Outpatients is still open for clinically urgent and some diagnostic testing. We have taken extra measures to reduce the risk for patients and staff through the use of extra personal protective equipment for staff, social distancing in any shared waiting areas, a symptom check station on arrival and thorough cleaning of all equipment and environs.  

Please see below for changes to diagnostic services at 77 Wimpole Street: 

Services operating as usual: 

  • Cardiac MRI and general MRI 
  • CT (general and cardiac)
  • PET-CT FDG and Rubidium 
  • Echo and exercise/pharmacological stress
  • ECG (remote ECG service is now also available) 
  • X-ray 
  • Non-invasive cardiology including ETT & CPET 
  • Lung Function
  • FeNO
  • Sleep studies 
  • Nursing –consultations, bloods etc. 
  • Private consulting rooms remain open for urgent face to face appointments

For referrals, please complete the diagnostic referral form as usual. 

Parking near 77 Wimpole Street: 

  • All congestion charges have been suspended. 

  • NCP are offering free car parking to NHS and all patients (there are 3 car parks that are reasonably close by) 

  • https://www.ncp.co.uk/parking-solutions/free-parking-offer/ 

Visitors 

In accordance with national guidance around coronavirus, and to protect our patients and staff we are stopping all visitor access in our hospitals. 

We understand how important the support of family and friends can be for patients in their recovery while they are in hospital so while visiting restrictions are in place, patients are encouraged to use the RBHT Guest Wi-Fi facility to ensure contact with friends and family is maintained. 

We appreciate your understanding. 

Patients 

We are only accepting urgent referrals and only those with appointments will be permitted to access our facilities. Patients can be accompanied by one person only, in order to protect patients, staff and families.  

We also kindly ask that all patients: 

  • Gel their hands as they enter the hospital and clinical areas 

  • Do not come into the hospital if they are unwell or have cold or flu-like symptoms 

  • Follow NHS guidance related to how to avoid catching and spreading coronavirus. 

We thank you for co-operating with us during this time. 

For more information about coronavirus, please visit the NHS website. 

Public health advice 

The NHS and Public Health England (PHE) are well prepared for outbreaks of new infectious diseases.  

Everyone is being reminded to follow Public Health England advice to: 

• Always carry tissues with you and use them to catch your cough or sneeze. Then bin the tissue, and wash your hands, or use a sanitiser gel. 

• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after using public transport. Use a sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available. 

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands. 

• Avoid contact with people who are unwell. 

Testing of suspected coronavirus cases is carried out in line with strict regulations. This means that suspected cases are kept in isolation, away from public areas of the hospital and returned home also in isolation. Any equipment that comes into contact with suspected cases is thoroughly cleaned as appropriate. Specific guidance has also been shared with NHS staff to help safeguard them and others.