Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
13th March 2020
Benenden Health is using guidance from the Department of Health and Public Health England to protect its workforce, and are also well-placed to continue to provide services in the event of social isolation.
What is Coronavirus (COVID-19)?
According to the NHS, COVID-19 is a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways. It’s caused by a virus called Coronavirus and symptoms include a cough, fever and breathing difficulties.
The illness is often more severe in people with a weakened immune system, older people, and those with long term conditions. For those who are normally healthy, your immune system should be able to manage this virus, as it would any common cold/flu.
For more information regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19) please visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19
What is the risk to me?
Within the UK most individuals are at a similar risk of contracting COVID-19 as they are the common cold, although the Government is introducing increased measures to delay the spread of the virus, reduce the impact on health services, and help protect those that it could impact most.
What is the status of Benenden Health’s services?
All our services currently remain available as normal, although members visiting premises provided by our service providers should seek that provider’s advice. We will monitor the situation closely and update as appropriate.
As the nature of medical services across the country will be changing in the interim, resulting in some non-urgent appointments being rescheduled or cancelled, we have made a change to our service. Any Benenden Health benefits that have been agreed from 1st January 2020 (and ongoing until further notice) are no longer subject to the maximum 6-month period to be completed by, the benefit will now be open for up to 12 months. Extending the time period ensures that members are not under pressure to get their diagnosis or treatment completed within 6 months when this may be difficult due to limited medical availability or concerns about attending a clinical facility.
Read a message from our Chief Executive, Bob Andrews.
Can I call Benenden Health for assistance?
If you have any concerns about your health in relation to Coronavirus, please use the NHS 111 helpline, although the Government has asked for consideration of the strain the service may be under and have also provided explicit guidance regarding self-isolation for you and those that live in your household should anyone display symptoms of Coronavirus.
Please also be aware our own phone lines are under increased pressure at the present time. Benenden Health’s 24/7 GP helpline remains available to members, however the NHS 111 helpline is more suitable for Coronavirus-related enquiries.
Please note that Benenden Health is not a provider of emergency care and cannot test for Coronavirus.
What is the situation at Benenden Hospital?
For information about Benenden Hospital’s approach to Coronavirus, please visit: https://www.benendenhospital.org.uk/coronavirus/
What can I do to help prevent spread of Coronavirus?
We encourage everyone to maintain good hygiene by carrying tissues, using them to catch coughs and sneezes, then immediately binning the tissue and washing hands with soap and water (for 20 seconds) or using sanitiser gel to kill germs if soap and water is not available. We have provided advice to our staff on good workplace hygiene and have made adjustments to our working practices.
Take a look at our piece on 5 ways to stop germs spreading.
USEFUL INFORMATION
- Accept that the advice for managing Coronavirus (COVID-19) for most people will be self-isolation at home and simple over-the-counter medicines
- Check and follow the latest FCO travel advice when travelling and planning to travel
- Check for new advice as the situation changes
- Use NHS 111 (or NHS 24 in Scotland or NHS Direct Wales) (including online, where possible), pharmacies and GPs responsibly, and go to the hospital only when you really need to. This is further explained on the NHS website (Wales)
- Check on elderly or vulnerable family, friends and neighbours
- Be understanding of the pressures the health and social care systems may be under, and receptive to changes that may be needed to the provision of care to you and your family.
- Ensure you and your family’s vaccinations are up to date as this will help reduce the pressure on the NHS/HSCNI through reducing vaccine-preventable diseases
(This page is being reviewed and updated as appropriate, Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm. If you are visiting this page outside of those times, please be aware that Government advice may have changed)
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