Main symptoms
The main symptoms of coronavirus are:
• High temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature), but if you have this facilty >37.8
• New, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
• Loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you've noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal
Most people with coronavirus have at least one of these symptoms.
NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme (NHSBCSP) at St Marks Screening Centre
The Bowel Cancer Screening Centre (BCSC) at St Mark’s is now a dedicated ‘COVID-19 minimised’ unit to enable all elective outpatient work to be performed in a safe, COVID negative environment.
Bowel Scope (Flexible Sigmoidoscopy) - This service remains suspended. All appointments have been cancelled and participants informed.
• There are no current plans to resume bowel scope invitations.
• The national screening team have been reviewing the bowel scope screening service; and we are aware that they have made a recommendation to the national screening committee NOT to resume this service. Whilst this maybe disappointing, we hope this will be the catalyst to lower the age we offer screening using a home testing kit as a replacement for bowel scope screening in the future. The home testing kit detects traces of blood in bowel motions and currently is only available to people aged 60 and over.
FIT Screening - This service is operating as normal within the bowel cancer screening centre.
We are offering virtual video consultations. If video consultation is not available/ appropriate then the participant will be called to clinic (face to face).
All those attending for face to face outpatient clinic appointments:
The participant will be greeted by a member of staff wearing appropriate PPE (surgical face mask). The participant will be asked to apply alcohol gel to their hands and wear a surgical face mask. Each participant will have their temperature and symptoms checked on arrival.
We advise that at this time we cannot have family members/friends attend the appointment with patients (exceptional need discussed case by case). If carers/ relatives are required for additional patient need then they will need to follow the same testing & processes as the patient.
Patients are advised to avoid public transport and use private vehicles
Colonoscopy
All patients will be screened for symptoms and tested (swabbed) for COVID-19, approx. 3 days prior to their lower GI procedure.
We advise that at this time we cannot have family members/friends attend the appointment with patients (exceptional need discussed case by case). If carers/ relatives are required for additional patient need then they will be need to follow the same testing & processes as the patient.
Patients are advised to avoid public transport and use private vehicles
Patients are called at 7 and 14 days post discharge to check they are well and did not develop COVID-19 symptoms or complications post-procedure.
Radiology
CTVC will be undertaken at CMH as an interim measure to minimise exposure to COVID-19 and ensure patients and staff are as safe as possible in terms of risk.
All CTVC diagnostic tests will continue to be reported and authorised by St Mark’s Radiologists/ Consultant Radiographer as per current BCS practices.
Interpreters
All interpreters will only be booked for telephone interpreting currently.
Only in exceptional cases (ie: if patient is hard of hearing, needs BSL etc), can we book a face to face interpreter.
Interpreters can be invited and attend the Attend Anywhere video consultation.
Attempts will be made to match the language of the patient and a staff member where possible
A non-verbal communication sheet is also available in the endoscopy procedure room
Surveillance
· This service is operating as normal within the bowel cancer screening centre.
Call & re-call
We are currently sending out FIT invitations. Any queries should be directed to 0800 707 60 60
Staff testing:
ALL staff take responsibility for signs & symptoms of COVID-19 and are fully aware not to come to work if they are displaying any new symptoms. Each morning on arrival to work each staff member undertakes temperature/ symptoms screening.
I hope this clarifies the position of St. Mark’s Bowel Cancer Screening Centre currently.
If there is anything which is unclear and needs clarification please do email the team via lnwh-tr.bcsccontact@nhs.net or 0208 869 3543
For further information please visit:
Do
Try to stay at least 2 metres (3 steps) away from anyone you do not live with
If you meet people outdoors, only meet in groups of up to 6 people and try to stay at least 2 metres away from each other
If you meet people indoors (including in your home), only meet 1 other household at a time and try to stay at least 2 metres away from each other
Wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
Use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
Wash your hands as soon as you get home
Wear something that covers your nose and mouth in places where it's hard to stay away from other people, such as on public transport, in shops and in hospitals
Don’t
Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean
Do not share or pass things to people you do not live with, including food and drinks