COVID-19 patient vaccination programme (Cohort 4)

We are now in a position to begin offering Covid-19 vaccination appointments for patients who fall under the Group 4 cohort as defined by the HSE.

Please see the link to the HSE website where you will find more details on the group 4 category of patients.

Given the range of conditions included within the Group 4 cohort, we will be contacting patients in order of age to confirm the criteria below and schedule an appointment.

Patients eligible for a vaccine at this time must be:

• aged between 18 and 69;
• willing to avail of the AstraZeneca vaccine;
• available to attend the AVIVA vaccination clinic;
• currently attending St.Vincents Private Hospital for treatment or who have attended in line with any of the timelines outlined in the Group 4 cohort criteria from the HSE;
• able to provide photo identification and a PPS number when they attend the AVIVA for their vaccination

For inpatients over 70 years of age, we are currently securing the appropriate vaccine supply and will be in contact when this is confirmed by the HSE.

We appreciate this is an anxious time for you and your families and assure you of our commitment to provide you with an appointment as soon as possible.

Preparations for your procedure

In line with national and international guidance, we have introduced pre-admission screening procedures to protect you, your family, our patients and staff from the risks of COVID-19. If a risk of COVID-19 is identified through screening, your admission will be rescheduled in consultation with your consultant.

Prior to attending the hospital, patients are reminded of the benefits of ensuring that contact is minimised with people outside of their immediate social group to the greatest possible extent and that social distancing, mask wearing and hand washing/sanitising is used to minimise infection risk on a daily basis.

Screening and testing

St Vincent’s Private Hospital has implemented strict screening and testing guidelines for certain procedures for both patients and staff in order to maintain our high levels of safety.

Before having your procedure, all patients will be required to answer a questionnaire to assess the risk of COVID-19.  These questions will be asked over the telephone, prior to your procedure and again on arrival in the hospital.

If you require a general anesthetic for your procedure, you will also be required to have a COVID-19 swab. An appointment will be made for you to have the swab taken in advance of your procedure and details of the swab test (appointment date and time) will be sent to you by phone. A member of our team will also be in contact with you the day before your admission to confirm your arrival time. In the event your swab is positive for COVID-19, your surgery will be rescheduled and you will be given a future date.

If your GP has referred you to the COVID-19 Testing Centre at St. Vincent’s University Hospital this Testing Centre is located next door to Carew House and Breast Check on the immediate left hand side as you enter the campus from Merrion Road (Eircode: D04 TC63).

What to Expect During Your Visit

Upon arriving at St. Vincent’s Private Hospital, you can feel confident you are entering a clean facility, where all areas are continually disinfected and all staff are required to wear face masks at all times in clinical areas. If you have been advised to wear a face mask on arrival, or choose to wear a face mask or face covering, please ensure that it is being worn correctly. To do this, check that it is easy to fit and completely covers your nose and mouth, all the way down under your chin.  Always wash your hands before and after touching your face covering.

We would ask that you do not wear disposable gloves into the hospital, these are single use items and should not be worn for extended periods of time. If you are wearing them on your journey to us, please remove on arrival and clean your hands afterwards at one of our hand hygiene stations near the main entrance.

To ensure social distancing, we have strict systems in place to reduce times in waiting areas. To avoid congestion, we have introduced a number of safety measures. Patients are asked to arrive on time for all appointments and where possible, attend your appointment alone. If you arrive to the hospital early, we would ask you to wait in your car or outside the building to avoid internal congestion. If you happen to be delayed, please phone the relevant department to let them know.

Visiting Restrictions

St.Vincent’s Private Hospital is currently closed to visitors.

• For visits to patients in critical care and end of life care, please contact our reception desk on (01) 263 8000 where you will be transferred to the Nurse Manager who will review your visiting request on a case by case basis. These restrictions are designed to provide the best and safest care for our entire patient population and staff at this time. We thank you for your co-operation.