3:51pm Thursday 7th January 2010
PEOPLE are being urged not to visit hospitals unless it is necessary.
Lewisham
Lewisham Hospital NHS Trust has cancelled appropriate elective surgery and some outpatient clinics.
But urgent appointments tomorrow (January 8) will still go ahead.
If your appointment has been cancelled you will be contacted and it will be re-arranged.
A hospital spokesman said: “Please do not visit the hospital unless absolutely necessary.
“We have restricted visiting to next-of-kin and named carers only. This is for the protection of our patients from any infections which may be brought in from the community, in particular those which cause diarrhoea and vomiting.”
Accommodation is available to staff who need to stay at the hospital to avoid travelling.
There has been an increase in snow and ice-related injuries at A&E and the primary care suite at Lewisham.
To keep up to date with service changes, visit lewisham.nhs.uk
Bromley
Health services in Bromley borough are running smoothly despite the bad weather, according to local health trust bosses.
However, Bromley Primary Care Trust has warned hospitals in London are seeing increasing demand for their services as patients fall ill or injure themselves in the cold weather.
A statement from the trust this morning (January 7) reads: “Currently we are managing to provide all community services in Bromley and the NHS across London is coping well, although some hospitals are seeing high levels of demand.
“With more snow forecast over the next week, we would urge everyone to take extra care in the icy conditions, to only leave the house if absolutely necessary, and to check on elderly or vulnerable neighbours, family and friends to make sure they are comfortable, well and warm.
“We would ask everyone to think carefully before calling the emergency services or going to A&E.”
The PCT also says it is working with Bromley Council to ensure paths and roads to hospitals are kept gritted for staff and patients, including the 2,600 workers at the Princess Royal University Hospital in Farnborough.
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