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Safety and screening

GenesisCare remains committed to ensuring that cancer patients can continue to receive the care they need in our centres. Currently all of our centres and clinics are operating without delay.

Doctor hub COVID-19 Clinician information Safety and screening

Screening & PPE

Keeping our patients and teams safe

  • Pre-visit screening

    We are screening patients and visitors for symptoms with a phone assessment and in-centre questionnaire on arrival. Companions are also screened, however we request companions to accompany patients if only absolutely necessary and they must be from the same household or support bubble.

  • Temperature check on arrival

    All visitors, including staff and patients, will have their temperature checked. We use non-touch infrared forehead thermometers or tympanic (ear) thermometers to record temperatures on arrival.

  • Emergency response plans

    GenesisCare has an emergency response plan in place which we will activate if a patient and/or employee comes into contact with the virus.

  • Personal protective equipment (PPE)

    All staff in our centres will wear a surgical mask within the centre and will adhere to social distancing where they are not required to be in close contact in order to deliver clinical care. All clinical staff will also wear gloves and an apron as appropriate whilst they carry out care.

Cleaning & hygiene protocols

  • Additional cleaning

    Providing safe and clean facilities remains a key focus, and we have increased the frequency of cleaning rounds including in high use areas such as waiting rooms, nursing stations and planning rooms.

  • Reinforcing strict hygiene protocols

    All employees and guests are asked to practice increased vigilance with hygiene and infection control, with hand sanitiser available throughout our centres, hand washing guides displayed and other reminder notices in centres.

Telehealth

What is Zoom for Telehealth?

GenesisCare has introduced Zoom for use in Telehealth consultations to provide an ongoing service and consultations in a safe environment for all patients and referrers. We have created a Zoom custom configuration to assist in managing your patient consultations by providing a virtual waiting room for patients. To keep Telehealth consultations secure we’ve also implemented a password policy and all our Zoom-to Zoom calls are encrypted.

Find out more here.

Private transport

GenesisCare offers a private transport service available to patients when required, depending on treatment. Our COVID-19 screening measures are also in place across our private transport service to maintain safety during their journey to and from our centre.

 

Testing

All staff are tested twice weekly using Lateral Flow Devices which test for COVID-19 in less than 30 minutes.  Any staff with a positive result are required to self-isolate. We advise any staff member, visitor or patient not to attend the centre if they have symptoms or have had contact with a confirmed positive

We test all patients using the  laboratory-based reverse transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR).  This involves taking a nasal and throat swabs in centre.

  • The laboratory-based reverse transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR).
  • Nasal and throat swabs are taken in centre for PCR testing or kits can be sent home and we will arrange courier service to the lab at our cost.

Asymptomatic patients

  • On chemotherapy – testing will be done no longer than two to three days prior to each chemotherapy cycle. Patients will get tested regularly depending on the chemotherapy schedule.
  • Radiotherapy – patients will get tested at their CT planning scan prior to fraction one and weekly throughout their radiotherapy schedule
  • Haematology patients – testing follows the same principles as with chemotherapy patients
  • Invasive procedures – testing will be performed two to three days prior to planed procedure
  • Any patients testing positive will be required to self-isolate for a minimum of ten days. The GenesisCare teams will liaise with their consultant to decide on a revised treatment schedule.

Symptomatic patients

PCR swab testing will take place for patients who are symptomatic. The ideal testing time is around five days from symptoms but could be anytime the patients are presented with symptoms. Patients should self-isolate until the PCR swab tests are back and the decision to continue or postpone treatment will be determined in consultation with their referring clinician.

Any patient with positive PCR swab test results will be required to isolate for 10 days. During this time the GenesisCare teams will discuss options with their consultant to determine best course of treatment. Testing will then resume on your next scheduled visit to the centre.

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