Covid-19

Information about coronavirus (COVID-19)

Northwick Park Hospital is one of a group of hospitals chosen to care for coronavirus patients. We have experienced doctors, nurses and other staff in the country, capable of dealing with this illness. While this is a new coronavirus, our doctors have extensive experience of treating infectious diseases. We also have appropriate facilities designed to provide the best care for patients who have the virus whilst keeping everyone else being treated at Northwick Park Hospital safe.

If you have an appointment please attend as normal. The health and safety of our patients, visitors and staff is our absolute priority and we have robust procedures to prevent infection and onwards transmission.

The NHS in London and Public Health England (PHE) are well prepared for outbreaks of new infectious diseases. The NHS has put in place measures to ensure the safety of all patients and NHS staff while also ensuring services are available to the public as normal.

The latest information on symptoms of Coronavirus infection and areas where recent travel may have resulted in a high risk of exposure can be found on nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

Visiting our hospitals

To help us stop the spread of coronavirus, keep our hospitals running, we’re really sorry that we are not currently allowing visitors in our hospitals.

Outpatient appointments and elective surgery

We are making some temporary changes to our outpatient appointments and non-urgent planned surgery.

Maternity services

We've made some additional changes to the way we'll care for you if you're pregnant or in labour.

Finding help

If you have particular questions about COVID-19, try our COVID-19 chat. It's based on guidance from NHS and the British Government, and can help you find answers to commonly asked questions.

Do not attend A&E, Urgent Care or Walk-in centres, or your GP

NHS 111 has an online coronavirus service that can tell you if you need medical help and advise you what to do.

Use this service if:

you think you might have coronavirus;
in the last 14 days you've been to a country or area with a high risk of coronavirus;
you've been in close contact with someone with coronavirus.

Go to NHS symptom checker

More information

While this is a new coronavirus, our doctors have extensive experience of treating infectious diseases. We also have appropriate facilities designed to provide the best care for patients who have the virus whilst keeping everyone else being treated at Northwick Park Hospital safe. Read our most recent update.

Any announcements regarding the status of our hospitals and wards will be announced on our website, and Facebook and Twitter profiles. Please help by sharing official messages only.

About the virus

Like the common cold, coronavirus infection usually occurs through close contact with a person with novel coronavirus via cough and sneezes or hand contact. A person can also catch the virus by touching contaminated surfaces if they do not wash their hands.

Testing of suspected coronavirus cases is carried out in line with strict guidelines. This means that suspected cases are kept in isolation, away from public areas of GP surgeries, pharmacies and hospitals and returned home also in isolation. Any equipment that come into contact with suspected cases are thoroughly cleaned as appropriate. Specific guidance has also been shared with NHS staff to help safeguard them and others. Patients can be reassured that their safety is a top priority, and are encouraged to attend all appointments as usual.

Everyone is being reminded to follow Public Health England advice to:

Always carry tissues with you and use them to catch your cough or sneeze. Then bin the tissue, and wash your hands, or use a sanitiser gel.
Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after using public transport. Use a sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
Avoid close contact with people who are unwell.