Home Patient Follow-Up Centre moves to standby mode

The Home Patient Follow-Up Centre began operations on Monday 23 March. Its role was to take over from Princess Grace Hospital and doctors in the community the responsibility for monitoring patients who had tested positive for COVID-19 and were suffering from milder forms of the disease, as well as symptomatic patients who had not been tested and whose health condition did not require them to be hospitalised or allowed them to be discharged from hospital.

At the height of the Centre’s activity, 117 patients were monitored by teams of medical and social staff.

The facility is managed by the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs and is staffed by doctors (both active and retired), social workers, psychologists, administrative staff and volunteers form the Red Cross. All offered their services voluntarily.

Over a period of six weeks, a total of more than 50 people have been working shifts to operate the Centre, which has been open from 9 am to 6 pm, seven days a week, requiring a team of 15–20 people every day. In addition, volunteer doctors have been staffing an overnight on-call rota.

Each patient has been called at least once a day, every day, by a doctor, for a consultation to check their health.

The Centre’s doctors have been called on to prescribe scans in the community (transport has been arranged directly through medical transport organisations in cooperation with the Fire and Emergency Service) as well as RT-PCR tests, samples for which have been taken at home by medical teams led by the Department of Health Affairs.

In cases where the patient’s health required it, the Centre’s doctors have conducted tele-consultations, sometimes with support from paramedic teams who have visited the homes of patients experiencing the most difficulties.

Logistical support has also been offered to those being monitored, particularly to provide help with shopping and deliver meals to their homes.

Finally, a Counselling & Wellbeing Unit has been active throughout the period.

Today, there are just two people still being monitored by the Centre, and their final tests have been scheduled for the beginning of the week.

Over the coming days, a reduced team comprising a doctor and an administrative coordinator will continue to monitor the development of the disease following the gradual lifting of the lockdown, in cooperation with Princess Grace Hospital and doctors in the community.

The Home Patient Follow-Up Centre will be reactivated if required, depending on how the situation develops.

The Prince’s Government would like to thank all those who have been involved in operating the Centre.