I had a valuable discussion today with Dr Claire Fuller, the Senior Responsible Officer at Surrey Heartlands Health and Care Partnership, about the local response to Coronavirus. Surrey Heartlands brings together the Clinical Commissioning Group, NHS Trusts, Surrey County Council and others to take collective responsibility for improving the health of people across Surrey.
Dr Fuller explained the great work that Surrey hospitals have been doing in treating all patients, not just those with Coronavirus, at this difficult time. Crucially, hospital capacity has been maintained through the peak of the crisis. I was particularly impressed to hear about the effort that went into converting Headley Court – a disused military hospital – into the NHS Seacole Centre. This rehabilitation facility will be important for Coronavirus patients who live in care homes or who have been discharged from hospital and require rehabilitation and recovery.
GP practices have also been a key part of Surrey’s response to Coronavirus. Practices have set up ‘Hot Hub’ Coronavirus triage centres, which assess whether patients require hospitalisation, as well as providing C19 patients with treatment for other issues. I recently visited the Hot Hub at Giggs Hill surgery in Elmbridge, which you can read about on my blog here.
Dr Fuller outlined how the NHS has linked up with local care homes, with a lead clinician assigned for each one and setting up weekly virtual ward rounds. It was encouraging to hear that there is now an established portal for Personal Protective Equipment, and that deliveries of swab tests are taking place.
More broadly, Dr Fuller also explained the importance of the wider use of digital triage processes and virtual appointments. These are great examples of how technology is being harnessed in responding this crisis, which will also stand us in good stead for the future.
(Image: Dom visiting the Covid-19 Hot Hub at Giggs Hill Surgery in April 2020)
