Covid information

Visitors to ward guidance (January 2023)

All visitors are welcome to CPFT sites if they are feeling well and do not have symptoms of a respiratory infection.

However, please  avoid visiting if you are unwell or have any Covid and or lfu-like symptoms, which may incliude a cough, sneezing, a stuffy or runny nose, a sore throat, headaches, muscle aches, breathlessness, tight chest or wheezing, a high temperature or feeling generally unwell.

Face masks guidance updated (June 2022)

Visitors or carers no longer need to wear a facemask at our sites unless it is your personal preference, or you are visiting a patient who has a respiratory condition, in protective isolation, or who is immunocompromised. You will be asked to wear a mask in these areas. 

Patients with respiratory symptoms who attend a Minor Injury Unit, an outpatient appointment, or are being treated in the community, are encouraged to wear a facemask.

Face masks, and hand-sanitising products are available at all main entrances to our sites. 

Please do not visit if you have any Covid-19 symptoms or have tested positive for Covid-19 within 10 days. As per pre-pandemic visiting guidelines, please do not visit loved ones if you are feeling unwell.

For the latest updates on Covid-19 please visit www.gov.uk/coronavirus.

For the latest health advice please visit www.nhs.uk.

Please check the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group website for updates on the Covid-19 vaccination programme. 

Carers:
If you are a carer, click here to find resources to support carers during the Covid-19 emergency situation.

Information for people with learning disabilities or on the autism spectrum and their families can be found here.

• All visitors are welcome to CPFT sites if they are feeling well and do not have symptoms of a respiratory infection. However, please  avoid visiting if you are unwell or have any Covid and or lfu-like symptoms, which may incliude a cough, sneezing, a stuffy or runny nose, a sore throat, headaches, muscle aches, breathlessness, tight chest or wheezing, a high temperature or feeling generally unwell.
• On arrival, visitors will be asked to answer a few questions about Covid-19 and how they are feeling to ensure it is safe to visit.
• In most cases two visitors will be allowed per patient, per day and there is no longer a requirement to arrange visits with a ward manager in advance.
• Whilst on site, visitors must follow the relevant infection prevention and control measures. This will be discussed on arrival, but may include washing hands, giving others personal space, being asked to roll up sleeves for effective hand hygiene and taking other precautions as necessary. Visitors no longer need to wear a face mask at our sites unless it is their personal preference, or they are visiting a patient who has a respiratory condition, is in protective isolation, or is immunocompromised.
• CPFT is continuously reviewing its visiting policy, in line with national guidance.
• Anyone with a COVID-19 positive test, or other symptoms of respiratory infections, should not visit the wards, even if these symptoms are mild or intermittent. 
• For any questions or queries, contact the ward manager, who will be happy to help.

Our Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMHS) teams have compiled a series of leaflets and handy guides about coronavirus for children, young people and families.

They contain a range of information and useful resources about Covid-19, and advice how to talk to young people, understand how they might be feeling, and answer their questions during the pandemic. Easy-read versions of the leaflets can also be found below.

Resources for children, young people and their families during the Coronavirus outbreak.pdf [pdf] 762KB

Coronavirus young people mental health resource pack.pdf [pdf] 797KB

Coronavirus young people's mental health resource pack easy read version.pdf [pdf] 845KB

Neuro-development resources for children, young people and their families durting the Coronavirus outbreak.pdf [pdf] 762KB

Going back to school.pdf [pdf] 1MB

Supporting your child back to school.pdf [pdf] 589KB

Feeling anxious and worried.pdf [pdf] 3MB

Other languages
Translated versions of Covid and other leafelts can be found here.

We are part of the national response in managing the spread and impact of the virus. We are working hard to provide mental health, community and social care to those who need it throughout this challenging time.

All CPFT services remain open. In order to ensure we can best support the acute Trusts, community Covid-related demands and the vaccination programme, many of our other staff have been asked to change where they work, how they work and the teams they’re working in.

This has enabled us to focus our resources on people affected by Covid-19 and those who need our help the most. This means that there may be longer waits for routine non-urgent appointments and referrals.

If this affects you, we will get in touch with you directly. Otherwise, please assume that your care is continuing as normal. If you are concerned about your own or a loved one's health, please continue to contact your care team directly.

To meet people's needs and look after the safety of our patients, staff and the public, we've had to adapt how we provide some of our services. Where appropriate, we'll be reducing the number of face-to-face appointments. Instead we will use video and telephone calls, which means we can continue to support people safely in their homes. 

Services may be running differently, but we are still here for you and are doing what we can to ensure you are supported. 

Call NHS 111 if you urgently need medical help or advice, but it's not a life-threatening situation. 
If you are in mental health crisis anyone can access support, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by calling NHS 111 and selecting option 2 (in Wisbech call 111, then select option 1 and ask to be put through to FRS).

Call 999 in a medical emergency. This is when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk. Further advice and support for those struggling with their mental health can be found below.

Information for people with learning disabilities or on the autism spectrum, and their families, can be found here.

We are working with local organisations across the health, social care and third sector to offer support for mental health and wellbeing during the Covid-19 outbreak.

There are lots of helpful resources for people to access online. Staff at CPFT’s Psychological Wellbeing Service have put together top tips for mental health and wellbeing during periods of self-isolation and staying at home. There are some key steps people can take to cope and maintain a healthy balance and routine over the months ahead. For more information please click here.

Further support is available here:

• Lifeline Helpline - Lifeline is a mental health helpline for people aged 18 and over living in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. The phoneline is available weekdays 11am-11pm, 7days a week, via freephone 0808 808 2121.
• Samaritans - The Samaritans run a 24 hour phoneline, 7 days a week, via freephone 116 123. You can also email jo@samaritans.org and they will respond within 24 hours.
• Heart and Soul Listeners - Providing listening support for people who are struggling during this time. 
• Keep Your Head - A website that brings together all the mental health support available in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
• CPSL Mind (Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and South Lincolnshire) has launched an online wellbeing service for people over the age of 18 called Qwell - found here. Qwell provides a range of materials to support and assist people with their psychological wellbeing, including educational and self-help articles and peer-to-peer support via forums. Adults are also able to receive help from qualified counsellors via drop-in or scheduled online chat sessions.
• Kooth - Kooth provides free, safe and anonymous online support for children and young people.
• Centre 33 - Free and confidential information and support for children and young people can be found here.
• Every Mind Matters - Tips and information on supporting your mental health and wellbeing can be found from the national NHS Every Mind Matters website here. 

Information for people with learning disabilities or on the autism spectrum, and their families, can be found here.

If you are in mental health crisis you can access support, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by calling NHS 111 and selecting option 2. During the Covid-19 situation, you can still access NHS 111, option 2, but please listen carefully to the messages and follow the verbal instructions. You will get through, although it might take a minute or so longer than normal.

We encourage people not to go to A&E if they are in mental health crisis unless they require assistance for serious or life-threatening mental or physical health situations. 

Carers
If you are a carer, click here  to find resources to support carers during the Covid-19 emergency situation.