Herts Valleys Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) update
19 July 2021
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Masks still required in healthcare settings
Join a focus group to hep shape urgent care in St Albans
Masks still required in healthcare settings
Patients in Hertfordshire and west Essex will still be required to wear face coverings in GP practices and other healthcare settings as COVID-19 restrictions ease.
The guidance from the NHS for healthcare settings has not changed, and patients who are not exempt from wearing a face covering should continue to wear one, follow social distancing and hand hygiene guidance. If patients are exempt from wearing a mask, a face shield may be offered as an alternative.
COVID-19 infection rates are rising in all areas of the country which means its vitally important we continue to do all we can against the virus. Wearing a face covering is an effective way of reducing transmission.
Join a focus group to help shape urgent care in St Albans
Your local NHS is making plans for what urgent care services at St Albans City Hospital will look like in the future once we can restart services there from spring next year. We want patients and local people to be part of those plans and are looking for your involvement.
NHS Herts Valleys Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), the local NHS organisation responsible for planning and paying for health care for residents across west Hertfordshire, is keen to hear how you use and access services for yourself or others you look after and what is important to you. Your views will help the local NHS to decide how to develop these services.
To collect this important patient feedback the CCG is organising some discussion groups in late July and early August. The groups, which will take no longer than 90 minutes, will take place online and participants will receive a payment or voucher to reimburse them for their time and any expenses and as a thank you for taking part.
We’d like to speak to anyone who uses urgent care services at St Albans City Hospital – either for themselves or for someone else. We want to reach every section of the local population and are especially keen to hear from particular groups who are less well represented in our feedback so far. If any of the following apply to you please get in contact:
• you are male, transgender or non-binary gender
• you have a disability, long term condition or have caring responsibilities
• you are 35 years of age or younger
• you are from an ethnic minority community.
If you’re not in one of the above groups and are interested in taking part in the discussion groups we would still really like to hear from you.
The groups will be run by The Campaign Company on behalf of Herts Valleys Clinical Commissioning Group. To register your interest in these groups and to find out more, please https://t.co/0a9e6Wh0Vi . Your views will help shape urgent care services in your local area.
If you aren’t able to take part in the discussion groups you can still give your views by completing a survey which runs until Sunday 1 August 2021 and which you will also find on the above web page.
We look forward to hearing from you.
