Dear Colleagues,
It has been a relentless few weeks, responding to the never-ending and enormous volume of advice and instructions we have received in the most recent phase of the Covid response. I am incredibly grateful to you all for the tremendous teamwork you have shown to ensure that we our delivering our educational offer as well as possible in the current circumstances.
The severe headwinds of uncertainty are undoubtedly generating stress and anxiety, but I would like to emphasise one key message, which I hope will help us all to keep focused through the turbulence.
What we do here at St George’s really matters.
The successful graduation of our students will create the health practitioners and scientists of the future. In years ahead, they will be making the important discoveries, developing the new drugs and delivering the frontline clinical care society needs. There isn’t anything more important.
It is critical that, as a staff team, we educate and support our students so they achieve those outcomes. I know that many of you are finding new ways to engage with our students online, demonstrating great creativity and flexibility. For some of you, your teaching role will mean being on site during the current lockdown and I know many of our researchers are continuing with vital work. With the restrictions as they are, I understand there may be concerns about being in our campus environment, but we have worked very hard to ensure it is as safe as possible and we have no evidence that cases of Covid have been transmitted there.
Perhaps recently it has been harder to believe, but it is true that this too shall pass. If we can look beyond the phase dominated by Covid to the time when our old freedoms will be restored, when colour will return to our lives and when there will be much more joy, it will be wonderful to see what our students achieve. They will forever be the cohort that wrestled and succeeded in their higher education path during the global pandemic. An enormous thank you for all that you are doing to support them on that journey.
With my very best wishes,
Professor Jenny HighamPrincipal
Watch the video of Principal Jenny Higham sharing these messages with students.
Read the latest Student Briefing issued today.
Staff notices
Where to take breaks and have lunch on site
Students have been advised that the following spaces are open for them to use for breaks and can be used by staff too. You are permitted to eat in these areas:
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The Boardrooms (rooms 2.6, 2.7 and 2.8) on Level 2 of the Hunter Wing
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The break-out area near the Level 2 Hunter Wing lifts, which was previously part of Pret
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The seating area between the Library and the Michael Heron lecture theatre on Level 1 of the Hunter Wing
Travelling to site
For those commuting to site, we understand that travelling by public transport can be a source of anxiety. Where possible, we recommend that you walk or cycle, but if that is not possible, please follow sensible precautions to minimise any risk of transmission. This includes:
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Wearing a face covering at all times
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Maintaining social distancing where possible particularly on platforms and in stations
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Regularly sanitising your hands and touching as few surfaces as possible
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Avoiding touching your face
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Travelling side by side or behind people, rather than facing them, where seating arrangements allow
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Travelling at off-peak times if feasible
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Walking for more of your journey, for example, getting off the tube a stop earlier
You can read further guidance about travelling safely on public transport during the pandemic on gov.uk.
Vaccination scams
You may have seen national media reports of fraudsters sending out fake texts offering the Covid vaccine in an attempt to steal personal and financial information. The NHS never ask for payment or your bank details so please be wary of any messages even if they look authentic. Read more and see example fake messages on the BBC website.
Safety on site at St George’s
Below is a reminder of the measures we have implemented to minimise risks to you when you are on site during the pandemic. These are continually reviewed and adjusted in light of evidence and good practice. Our records demonstrate that the risk of transmission on site is extremely low.
We are:
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Ensuring facilities and surfaces are cleaned regularly, providing additional resources for individual hand cleaning, along with clear signposting around the site.
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Providing you with any necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) you require.
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Programming student timetables to help manage social distancing.
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Ensuring teaching spaces enable adequate social distancing.
We all have a part to play to minimise the risk of transmitting coronavirus. Below are steps you can take:
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Wash your hands with soap and water or hand gel frequently and whenever leaving any space on campus.
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Wear face coverings in all common parts of the University, including in the main foyers, The Street, common rooms, the Library and the Halls of Residence (but not in individual flats). Face coverings must also be worn in learning environments, such as teaching rooms and laboratories, at all times and in offices where 2m distancing cannot be maintained.
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Keep your distance, staying at least two metres apart from others outside your household, or, if that's not possible in classes, offices or elsewhere, one metre apart with mitigation e.g. face coverings or screens. This is particularly important while waiting to access teaching spaces in corridors.
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Cover coughs or sneezes using a tissue or your elbow.
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Use spaces safely, following the one-way systems, tapping your ID card whenever you can so there’s a record of your movements around campus and wiping desks and computers before you use them in common areas such as in the Library.
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Keep informed of any changes to guidance, checking your emails regularly for alerts from the University.
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Remind and respect others, prompting others to follow the rules to keep us all safe, but being aware that some people are exempt from requirements to wear a face covering. Do not take offence if you receive a reminder yourself.
Note that it is now against the law to meet socially with family or friends unless they are part of your household or support bubble (see further details of the National Lockdown restrictions).