Lockdown level 2:  What to expect when visiting your local hospital

The Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma last Monday unpacked lockdown level two regulations, which allow several sectors of the economy to reopen.  What does this mean in terms of visiting patients in hospital or going there for treatment?

We spoke to Jacques Du Plessis, the Managing Director of Netcare’s hospital division, who explained how the relaxed protocols affect business at their hospitals.

“As lockdown restrictions are relaxed, people are increasingly socialising, visiting public facilities to shop, exercise or dine out, and many have returned to their places of work. In many cases, however, they are still hesitant to access hospital care even when they need it. Realistically, hospitals that have the appropriate Covid-19 precautionary measures in place, as we have within Netcare hospitals, are therefore among the safest public places to be. Ongoing vigilance and screening of all persons who enter the facilities remain crucial to our approach,” he said.

Du Plessis added that their comprehensive precautionary measures include among others, the daily screening of all persons who work at their facilities for an extensive number of risk factors and not just temperature monitoring, the wearing of appropriate protection of Personal Protective Equipment for healthcare workers, patients and visitors, and ongoing and thorough disinfecting of all areas.

Visitation of patients

Restrictions applicable to the general visitation of patients, implemented at the start of lockdown, remain in place, with certain exceptions, according to Du Plessis. “Requests for visitation beyond the exceptions outlined here can be made to hospital management and will be accommodated as far as possible”.

Elective surgery

“Based on Netcare’s Covid-19 policy and protocols, implemented at all Netcare hospitals and day hospitals during the pandemic, our group is managing elective surgery in a responsible manner, always with our patients’ and healthcare workers’ best interests and safety at heart,” Du Plessis noted.

He added that Netcare hospitals remain fully vigilant in taking precautions to ensure the safest possible environment for patients and healthcare workers. The decision whether to proceed with a specific surgical procedure is solely that of the treating surgeon and the patient, he said.

“To minimise the risk of Covid-19 spreading into or within Netcare hospitals, patients are still required to test for Covid-19 at least 72 hours before their planned admission, to self-quarantine from the time of testing to admission, and to present their results on the day of their planned admission when they will also complete the digital screening for Covid-19.  Separate zones for patients who are Covid-19 negative, under investigation or positive are strictly maintained to ensure the safety of our patients as well as our healthcare workers,” he said.

End-of-life situations

“Visitation for end of life situations will continue to be arranged by the hospital general manager to ensure a compassionate approach regardless of a patient’s Covid-19 status. Such visitation is subject to certain conditions, which will be discussed with the patient’s family, however Netcare hospitals will accommodate requests as far as possible,” he said. Visitors will have to adhere to very strict infection prevention controls to minimise the risk to other patients and healthcare workers.

Antenatal visits and births

Birthing partners are now allowed to accompany expectant mothers to antenatal visits at Netcare hospitals. Birthing partners may, as was the case up to now, attend the delivery of the baby.

“Note that these policy relaxations are on condition that partners complete the digital screening for Covid-19, which includes a comprehensive risk assessment questionnaire whereby identified risks such as Covid-19 exposure or symptoms may disallow entry. Partners will also be required to adhere to strict infection prevention measures that have been put in place in our hospital solely to ensure the safety of our patients and healthcare workers.”

Nursery and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)

Only one parent at a time is allowed to visit newborns in the nursery or NICU. This is on condition that the person(s) visiting has had no Covid-19 exposure and if the parent visiting is not an in-patient, will need to complete the digital screening for Covid-19. “A parent visiting will also be required to adhere to very strict infection prevention controls that are in place to minimise the risks to their baby, other patients and healthcare workers. We unfortunately still cannot allow grandparents or siblings to visit.”

Paediatrics

Only one parent at a time is permitted to live in with an admitted child. “The parent is required to have had no Covid-19 exposure and will need to complete the digital screening for Covid-19. A parent living in with their child will be required to adhere to very strict infection prevention controls that are in place to minimise the risks to their child, other patients and healthcare workers,” Du Plessis said.

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