Patients arriving at Walsall Manor Hospital are being asked to follow specific routes when they arrive as efforts continue to manage the COVID-19 pandemic and keep people safe and well.

Some outpatient appointments have started running again this week, with others to follow over the next few weeks.

Patients are being asked to come into the hospital via the main entrance when they arrive and use the hand sanitiser provided. They will then be asked if they have an outpatient appointment and directed towards a blue route taking them to the left. If they need maternity services they will be directed to use a red route that takes them up on to the first floor via the lifts or escalator.

The rear entrance of the hospital is now for staff only – the only exceptions being people who need to access cardiology appointments or the General Office.

Jane Longden, Divisional Director of Estates and Facilities for Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, said: “We’d like to thank patients for bearing with us while we were implementing these necessary arrangements to ensure the safety and wellbeing of both them and our staff.

“We appreciate that some people may feel apprehensive about coming to the hospital for their appointments but if they follow good hand hygiene and don’t attend if they have any of the recognised symptoms of a new continuous cough, a high temperature or a loss or change to their sense of smell or taste they will help us to reduce infection. We are also asking people not to wear gloves as these transmit germs.”

Jane added that volunteers would also be available in the main atrium of the hospital to help direct people appropriately.

All staff are being asked to show their ID badges and they will sanitise their hands when they arrive and leave. They will follow whichever route they need to get to their work area.