Monkeypox alert
Monkeypox is a rare viral infection usually associated with travel to central and west Africa. It is usually a mild illness and it’s spread by very close contact with someone with monkeypox. Most people recover within a few weeks and the risk to the UK population remains low.
Symptoms
Symptoms include unusual rashes or lesions on the body such as the face or genital area (these may look like raised bumps, spots, blisters, or scabs), fever, muscle aches, chills and exhaustion, headaches and swollen glands.
What to do if you think you might have monkeypox
If you think you might have monkeypox symptoms or have been in contact with someone who has had monkeypox in the last three weeks:
- Call the Monkeypox Helpline on 0333 2423 672 (Monday-Friday 8am-6pm and Saturday-Sunday 9am-1pm)
- Call the National Sexual Health Helpline on 0300 1237 123 (Monday-Friday 9am-8pm and Saturday-Sunday 11am-4pm)
- Visit NHS 111 online or call 111
Please do not attend a clinic, hospital or your GP in person, unless they arrange an appointment. It is also important you avoid close personal or sexual contact with others until you have had a clinical assessment.
When the helplines are closed
Please do not attend A&E unless you are signifinicantly unwell or have a life-threatening emergency. If you do need to attend A&E please inform staff immediately that you have monkeypox symptoms.
If you need advice out of hours or have an urgent but not life-threatening medical need please visit NHS 111 online or call 111 for advice on where you can get care. When contacting NHS 111 please let them know if you have monkeypox symptoms.
For the latest information, please use the following links:
Other useful links:
- All updates from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) are published via this rolling news story, including the latest case numbers.
- UKHSA Twitter feed
- Professor Kevin Fenton explaining what monkeypox is and how to spot the signs video
Patients and visitors
We want to make your visit welcoming, comfortable and safe, not only for you, but also for your friends and family.
To help us make your visit as easy as possible, please prepare before you arrive. You will have received a letter telling you when and where your appointment is, or the ward you will be admitted to – remember to double check those details because our services are split over different sites. We don’t want you to get lost and turn up in the wrong place.
If you have any questions, if you’re unable to make your appointment or feel unwell in the run-up to your arrival, please change your appointment online. If you’re unable to do this, please call the number provided on your appointment letter.
Occasionally, we may need to cancel your appointment. We will let you know as soon as possible, but cancellations on the day may occur.
If you need extra support during your stay or appointment, please let us know in advance. We can help if you:
- need a translator or interpreter
- consider yourself to have a learning disability
- need additional help getting to and from hospital. This service is not available to everyone and you will be assessed to see if you meet the criteria.
- have a pet at home. The Cinnamon Trust is a charity who may be able to assist, should you have no one who can look after your pets. You can contact them by calling 01736 757 900.