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Monthly archives: March 2020

COVID-19 bulletin: Tuesday 31 March

 

This is our once a day bulletin. This will take all national and professional guidance and information and tell you which changes we are implementing when and how. Please use this bulletin and daily cascade arrangements within clinical groups to guide local action.  Remember KINDNESS is our watchword in implementing our plans.

Over 100 colleagues are now rooming in decent hotels around the area.  Please grab your chance to do the same.  Hotels like the Mercure at Junction 1 are offering food and laundry and the Trust pays for travel to and from work.  We need to support you to be in work and safe.  We now have over 1000 hotels rooms available…

1. Thank you to everyone getting trained for new roles in the days ahead

About 150 colleagues are currently being trained to support our expanded Intensive Care service, with ten doctors in training moving across to work in that service, and consultant anaesthetists and intensivists forming revised teams to provide support to at least 52, rather than the current 17, Critical Care beds.  This is the heart of our Surge Plan.  All of this training will be complete not later than Monday April 6th.

We cannot promise that shift patterns will be the same as those moving across presently have.  We can commit to taking account of reasonable adjustments and work/life balance.  That means that part time staff cannot be compelled to work longer hours.  And day time staff cannot be compelled to work night-time contracts.  We would ask for as much temporary flexibility as individuals feel able to offer to meet the huge challenge we face.

2. Almost 100 other colleagues have been identified and are being trained to help in ED, our red and blue wards

A complete reorganisation of medical staff and therapy staff cover is being implemented over coming days.  As outlined on Friday in our COVID Update 7, these changes have been designed by local clinicians to best-fit the scale of what is ahead.  Where-ever we can we are seeking to retain experienced therapy clinicians and leaders in base ward environments to help drive safe care and discharge, without which the beds we have will grind to a halt.

Nursing and Healthcare Assistants from outside our wards are being moved onto our ward environments.  Tomorrow (or for a few folk on Thursday) you will be approached by your manager to have a discussion if you are affected by our first wave of changes.  We will need to make sure you are FIT tested, given appropriate training and support on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, and allocated to a specified group of wards for the near future.  If you are uncertain about these arrangements, or if you want to volunteer, please contact Helen Cope in the first instance.

3. Mobilising to support key support services

We cannot manage safely without the vital support of our Patient Transport colleagues (from WMAS) and our porters and ward service officers, as well as many others.  To address absences among those groups we are pursuing three strategies:  Use of temporary external workers; a recruitment drive at scale over the next fortnight; and temporary movement of some other Trust staff into these roles including local medical students.  The model for this is being finalised before we issue updated Working From Home Guidance on April 7th.  Anyone who we ask and require to take on a temporary duty will receive full training for that work.  If you wish to put yourself voluntarily forward please email glynisfenner@nhs.net

As indicated in yesterday’s bulletin if you are not in your normal place of work, because you are shielding, isolating, unwell, or working from home please ensure by this time tomorrow that your ESR record is accurate.  In writing to colleagues currently off sick from work it has become clear that a number of records are not completely accurate and it is important that you and your line manager work together to make sure the record reflects reality.

4. Make sure you voice your concerns

The Trust is committed to a Speak Up culture and to treating people fairly.  The pace of the COVID-19 epidemic may mean that sometimes changes happen quickly.  That will include consideration of appeals or grievances, and disputes.  It should not mean that your needs or voice are overlooked.  Urgency is never an excuse for ignoring important considerations.  Mistakes will happen.  But please raise your views as we move forward.

Incident reporting continues in the Trust and is scrutinised.  Measures of harm like our Safety Plan remain a priority.  Work on sepsis likewise.  Of course, all of us are having to adjust to a new reality for a while, but use all existing and historic channels to flag worries about our patients’ care, or opportunities to Shout Out good practice and turn learning into GEMS.  If you are unsure how to get your voice heard email our CEO tobylewis@nhs.net

5. Testing, testing, testing

We know that the continued delay initiating symptomatic staff testing is a source of concern for many staff and loved ones.  Last weekend and this week we have managed to operate services.  Those will continue to tomorrow and probably for a while longer.  A new service in central Birmingham will shortly be launched and we are working to make sure that we have sufficient access to that, and that those most at risk get priority alongside other key workers.

Nationally there is a drive to make sure that at least 15% of laboratory sample time is devoted to employees.  At the moment that is not possible in our area but plans are emerging to get that going.  Right now the most important advice is that if you are Covid Symptomatic and could be a candidate for a test (the antibody test is some way off) please make sure ESR records your most accurate contact details including weekend contact details like your mobile phone.  The supply planning is moving fast and the window to test you and have that test be effective is small.

74 employees have received a letter from Toby acknowledging that their test results will not be coming from our first round of testing.  If you have not received that letter but were among staff tested before Wednesday 25th March please contact Julie.booth4@nhs.net

Collection of mattress and pumps from patients with actual or suspected COVID-19

 

Please carry out the following for ALL airflow mattresses AND pumps that have been used by a patient with Actual or Suspected Covid-19 infection:

 Wipe down each mattress and pump with Chlor clean or clinell wipes

  • Place in separate clear bags and secure with cable tie
  • Complete ‘The Declaration of Contamination Status’ forms FULLY for each item
  • Place the form and item in a second clear bag
  • Secure with cable tie

NB – MATTRESSES AND PUMPS WILL NOT BE COLLECTED UNLESS THESE INSTRUCTIONS HAVE BEEN FOLLOWED CORRECTLY.

Tissue Viability Service will provide these forms, extra bags and cable ties- please call if you are running low.

If you have any queries, please contact the Tissue Viability Team on #3278

Thank you for your cooperation

COVID-19 bulletin: Monday 30 March

 

This is our once a day bulletin. This will take all national and professional guidance and information and tell you which changes we are implementing when and how. Please use this bulletin and daily cascade arrangements within clinical groups to guide local action.  Remember KINDNESS is our watchword in implementing our plans.

 You may have seen some publicity about large super-centres to manage the COVID-19 surge, including one at the NEC.  The Trust is working with partners on these plans but please continue to focus your energy on implementing the local SWB plan announced last Friday!

1. It is Go, Go, Go now with our staff deployment and training packages

About 160 colleagues are moving to support our Critical Care expansion, and well over 100 are being trained to move and support A&E and our ward base.  The aim is to have everyone trained not later than Monday April 6th.  Your line manager will talk to you if you are affected by this, and you will be provided with details of both where, with who, how to get trained and how you can raise any queries or requests for adjustment.  Medical and therapy models are also being rolled out alongside HCA and registering nursing changes.  The leaders involved were named in Toby’s COVID Update 7 on Friday 26th.

We know that this is a daunting request and one made against the background of the Pandemic and the expectation of a surge soon across the region.  If you have a pre-existing condition which gives you cause for concern about your ability to work in a COVID+ area, please talk to your line manager, or contact HR on ext. 3116 if you would prefer not to discuss it locally.  We will work to support you.

If you are working in one of our red areas, or are asked to move there, please consider our hotel and free taxi offer.  It is incredibly important that we try and maintain your ability to work safely, alongside your friends and families’ wellbeing.

Tomorrow’s bulletin will be a ‘Special’ devoted wholly to messages on this topic.

2. Home working, shielding and isolating  

There are lots of reasons that over 1,000 colleagues right now are not in work.  It is important we maintain clear records of who and why.  This is not because you are not trusted!  It is because for each ‘category’ there are forward plans of when you might need to be recalled to site and we do not want to find out then that our records are wrong.

  • If you are working from home you must have the written agreement of your line manager, work in a non-clinical function, have emailed wfh@nhs.net and downloaded our myConnect App onto your mobile.  If you have not emailed yet, please do so before Tuesday’s bulletin.
  • If you are self-isolating because of your own symptoms or those of your loved ones, you must contact your line manager who will register your absence on ESR.  If you have not done that, or are not sure that your line manager has, please contact your line manager or log into ESR before Wednesday’s bulletin.
  • If you are shielding because of a notified condition having received a letter from your GP or NHS England last week, please make sure your line manager has updated your record on ESR.  Please do this before Wednesday’s bulletin.

If you are not sure which of the above is you, please ring HR on extension 3116.  Do not ignore this message!

3. Testing staff with symptoms of COVID-19

You can contact 0121 507 2664 and choose option 5 if you meet the clinical criteria for testing.  If we have availability before Wednesday 1st we will work to get you tested.

We are working with partners nationally, regionally and locally to confirm testing arrangements from April 2nd.  We know that there will be testing and are working hard to remove confusion about how it will be delivered, where and to whom.  All testing run through the Trust will support the work of partners in Care Homes, General Practice and neighbouring organisations:  We are in this fight together.

4. FIT tests!  & new PPE stations going into operation

Listening to your feedback it is clear that our policies on PPE are ones you support.  The difficulty is making sure that the PPE is where you are when you need it.  Deliveries take place to every department, and we have central stores on each hospital site, including Rowley Regis.  But ward stores are often hard for porters, pharmacists, WSOs, PTS crews and others to access.  So outside every ward we are putting a basic mask/apron/glove store in place.  Please do NOT use this to top up your ward stock or you will be responsible for putting colleagues at risk.

Yesterday we asked you to make sure you are using the right FFP3.  We have now made new arrangements for on-site FIT testing.  You can book your slot by calling 0121 507 5050 and it should take place over the next 3-4 days or nights.  Please be flexible about your slot as we have lots of people wanting a first or especially a new test.

5. Hot GP centres part of the Covid-19 response

On Wednesday a large GP grouping joins the Trust, and 10% of all local residents will then get their primary care through our organisation.  We already operate three practices and have re-located one of those to support the Parsonage Street “Hot” COVID-19 Centre.  The other local centre is based at Aston Pride.

The Trust’s community teams, for children and families, in midwifery and throughout adult healthcare are working hard alongside practices to try and maintain services.  A few branch surgeries have closed but the local plan is to retain primary care and pharmacy capacity.  COVID-19 queries will be diverted after remote triage to the centres named.

Please make certain that even if a service you run, provide or administer is changing its criteria for care that every referral is logged and the process of assessing urgency is followed.  COVID-19 does not permit Trust services to ’close’ to referrals.

Star of the Week – Anil Bhogal, Trust Security Manager

 

Star of the Week goes to Trust Security Manager, Anil Bhogal who has been commended for his response to the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Anil has worked hard to transform the security team growing the team significantly in a very short period of time to be able to respond appropriately to the difficult situations that COVID-19 has presented.

Working alongside his front-line colleagues Anil has taken the lead in shaping the face of Security to be both friendly and supportive as well as firm and assertive to protect both colleagues and patients.

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Pop up shop launches at Sandwell

 

Our pop up shop is now open at Sandwell Hospital. This shop is specifically aimed at our frontline colleagues.

You are able to purchase essential items such as pasta, fruit, toilet roll and cleaning products. Only card and contactless payments are accepted and items are limited to one per person.

Our pop up shop is located in seminar room 7, learning and development building. The shop will be open on the following days and times:

  • Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 7.30am-10am and 1.30pm-4pm

Happy shopping and thank you for your continued hard work.

BME Network meeting cancelled

 

Given the current situation with COVID-19, we will be cancelling the BME Staff Network meeting due to take place on Thursday 16 April.

If you wish to speak to the Chair of the BME Staff Network, please contact d.mighty@nhs.net.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

COVID-19 bulletin: Sunday 29 March

 

This is our once a day bulletin. This will take all national and professional guidance and information and tell you which changes we are implementing when and how. Please use this bulletin and daily cascade arrangements within clinical groups to guide local action.  Remember KINDNESS is our watchword in implementing our plans.

If you’re reading this bulletin do talk about it with your colleagues.  But remember to be 2 metres apart!  If you find colleagues who don’t read it or access it, encourage them to download My Connect on their mobile.  That way they can know the plan and make sense of their part in our work.

  1. Delighted that our staff testing work got moving again today

Over coming days we are expecting to test over 300 staff, before a wider relaunch across the Black Country.  We have also tested some high risk colleagues from partner organisations, because we are one NHS.  Bear in mind we have 1008 colleagues away from work right now owing to a positive test, or self-isolation, many because of family or housemates.  Thank you on behalf of all of us to the truly amazing testing teams, Infection Control staff, lab partners and estates teams standing up our Pop Up swab shops.

If you have been absent for 14 days from work, you must do get in touch with your line manager or contact HR extension 3116 to talk through your situation.  We want to help, and to advise.  We need every member of our Trust staff at work night and day right now.

2. Hand washing and social distancing matter very very much  

Our focus on PPE and on staff welfare must not obscure the basics of tackling this virus.  If you are not washing your hands more than a dozen times a day, and observing hand hygiene associated with infection control, you are posing a risk to others.  Remember one person over three cycles of contact can infect 59,000 people.  So the infection risk is not about just you, it’s about all of us.

Whether it is on the shuttle bus, in the Arches queue, in the theatres staff room, or in management meetings, you need to observe social distancing best practice.  It feels weird at first.  Perhaps quite stark.  But it is our best bet to do what we need to do and break the surge cycle.  It’s ok to ask colleagues to not stand so close to you….(that’s a song..)

3. Car parking arrangements on all our sites

Yes you can!

Our barriers are up.  From Wednesday April 1st the Trust can stop charging for parking because we will receive central funds for the income.  So, especially if you are undertaking clinical and patient facing work, please make use of the car parks, on the days that walking or cycling to work does not appeal.

4. New Leasowes and care of the dying in our Trust

Ten days ago we changed the work of Leasowes.  We did this because side rooms hospital wide are needed for Covid-19 isolation, and so those on palliative pathways would otherwise be in open wards.  The unit in Oldbury has become wholly devoted to CQC-outstanding End of Life Care.  Make sure you know the pathways, and thank you to the team in the unit adjusting to a huge change in their working lives.

Across the Trust though visitor restrictions are placing emotional load on families and on our teams.  Every single ward has at least one Video Phone.  This allows you to connect people at home with people here.  If you do not know how to use it, or yours has gone missing contact Martin Sadler, our Chief Informatics Officer direct.  We are absolutely committed to helping families to stay in touch.  Look out for guidance posted outside our wards next week.

5. Next week is retraining & temporary deployment week

In our Covid Update 7 on Friday 27th Toby Lewis set out the basis for our workforce plan as we look to get ahead of curve as very unwell patient numbers mount.

Line managers across critical care and theatres, surgical and medical wards, medical staff, therapies, and into outpatients, CNS areas, and corporate functions will be out next week talking with individuals about plans to train over 300 staff in new roles.  By Monday April 6th we have to be ready to have our EDs, wards and critical care facilities operating to our Covid-19 Surge Plan.  The bulletin on Tuesday will be devoted to this topic.  But it’s ok to ask now.  Talk to us.  Talk to HR on 3116.  Think about what you need to help you.  Whether you are in bowel screening, a dermatologist or cardiologist, in a community setting, or working in theatres, you are part of the fight.

6. FFPE3: Getting it right and helping us all not to get this wrong

Our red area guidance remains as before.  Our stock levels are improving sharply.  Boxed deliveries now go to every area and next week we start Operation hoard-less to remove any excess stock secreted in departments (please give it up now before we find it…).  Full time FIT testers will be operating on acute sites from April 1st.

It is important you use the mask you have been allocated and tested for.  In particular, we are seeing a surge of use of Alpha mask not the Aura mask.  That means your use and our stock are out of sync, because we are ordering against our FIT list.  8,000 Alphas are coming.  But please/please use the Aura mask is that is what you were allocated.  If you need a re-FIT test, look out for details of how to get one next week.  A picture of the Aura is below.

COVID-19 bulletin: Saturday 28 March

 

The Trust is now publishing a daily bulletin. This will take all guidance and information and tell you which changes we are implementing when and how. Please use this bulletin and daily cascade arrangements within clinical groups to guide local action. Remember KINDNESS is our watchword in implementing these changes.

The Trust is back undertaking some staff swabbing, using new laboratory provision – as part of a national pilot!  We start tomorrow working with Black Country peers.  The Contact Centre will be operational from Monday for bookings.  We are contacted isolating colleagues who are eligible.  We are determined to do everything we can to support our teams.

  1. The role of our wards is changing but all of us depend on our Emergency Departments

Since mid-week last week, our Emergency Departments are seeing rises again in arrivals. And the proportion of patients arriving with a strong suspicion of Covid-19 is growing hugely. Staff sickness and isolation rates are high in this very high intensity environment.  It is really important that we support colleagues working in ED.  Just because everyone else’s work is changing with moves of wards, and moves of staff, we should not assume that everything is as before in A&E. If you have any capacity to transfer some of your HCA or nursing shifts into our EDs, please contact either of the matrons (Annabel Botttrill and Antoinette Cummings).

A lot of our communication has focused on Red and Blue wards (and now red and blue lifts…). Which wards are which is kept up to date on the Connect front page, and is also visible outside the ward. But it is also important that you are aware that wards are changing role too.  Newton 1 and D16 are going to open as critical care units for example.  Surgical patients are being cared for alongside medical patients on Priory 5.  This will continue to change day-by-day over the next week. D25 at City is no longer our Blue acute medical ward.  D30 is opening for that purpose. D11, D25, D26 and D28 are all Red Covid wards.

2. The Trust is now implementing surgical face masks in ‘blue’ areas  

From this evening, and as indicated in Covid Update 7 @SWBHnhs issued last night by Toby Lewis, we are revising our PPE guidance.  At this stage all other guidance remains as was but we are implementing surgical face mask access for patient contact that cannot be socially distanced.  This includes community contacts, including midwifery, district nursing, and other provision.  In blue wards, we cannot guarantee that distance, because patients move around (which is positive for them).  So we have decided to advise blue areas to use masks.  National guidance does continue to evolve.  Please rely on this bulletin for what we are adopting locally.

Face masks have always been our guidance in areas where no prior assessment has been possible, such as our Malling Primary Care service, in community settings, and across emergency departments and assessment units.  That remains our advice.

3. Please consider our hotels, and if you do we will pay for your taxi travel

Nearly 100 colleagues have now relocated to hotels.  Please consider, given the work ahead, and the needs of those you live with, whether you should join them.  Should relocating then make travel to work impossible, because you do not have a car, we will pay for taxis if organised through our partner, details below.

Staff routinely using taxis for other reasons, will get a discount on the cost.

We have agreed an arrangement with a taxi firm called OLA. This is a similar service to Uber and operates from a mobile device app that can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. If you register with your NHS email address, after verification, you will be eligible for a 50% NHS discount on journeys booked to and from Trust sites (please note the discount is only for travel to and from work).

4. Food for employees on site

Most supermarkets and many online stores now have dedicated care worker slots for colleagues like our social workers, ambulance partners and NHS teams. We will set up next week a small essentials shop on site to help especially those working difficult shifts patterns.

From 7pm each night from tomorrow chilled ready meals will be available at the following points for staff working long shifts with no access to catering or time to hit the shops.  Supply is limited to one meal per person per visit!

Sandwell Hospital: Main reception, Lyndon 5, Pharmacy link

City Hospital: City A&E x-ray area and near the prayer rooms, first floor near AMU2

Rowley Regis: Opens Tuesday!

These meals have been donated from companies in our community – Prestige Suite, Yule Love Food and Sabir Spice Time. All of our options apply equally to ward service officers, ward clerks, doctors in training, HCAs, nurses, pharmacists etc. etc.  You are all essential.

5. Uniforms and scrubs

Our last update on scrubs reminded you the areas were this is compulsory and those where it is recommended.  Currently our supply does not match demand and so we are asking only those who truly need scrubs to choose them,  For most colleagues your uniform is the right choice.  It is important we are clear the cleaning arrangements for that uniform. They are as follows:

Uniforms and clothing worn at work should be washed at the hottest temperature suitable for the fabric. A wash of 10 minutes at 60°C removed almost all micro-organisms. Washing with detergent at lower temperatures – down to 30°C – eliminates MRSA and most other micro- organisms. The type of washing powder used e.g. biological or non-biological is not important. Do not overload the washing machine. Overloading the machine will reduce wash efficiency. Heavily soiled uniforms should be washed separately. Separate washing will eliminate any possible cross-contamination from high levels of soiling and enable the uniform to be washed at the highest recommended temperature. Uniforms should be dried quickly or tumble dried, and ironed. Attention should be paid to the seams of the garment when ironing as this is where bacteria may be harbouring. Once uniforms are laundered and ironed, they should be stored flat in a clean plastic bag to minimise the risks of contamination with dust, other contaminants, or by household pets

You may be able to claim tax relief in respect of laundry costs by writing to the local Inland Revenue office with your NI number and details of the cost.

Heartbeat: Ambassador aiming to help transform service and inspire fellow midwives

 

Midwife Becky Fox has been selected as an ambassador which is part of the NHS Horizons campaign to re-ignite the passion that her colleagues have for their profession by flagging up new ideas and innovative ways of working.

Becky, who is also deputy matron for midwifery outpatients, aims to increase job satisfaction and improve retention. The Horizons campaign has been created by the Royal College of Nursing and aims to transform perceptions of nursing and midwifery.

Becky told Heartbeat: “I’m really pleased that I have been selected to carry out this important role within the Trust. I will be working with other midwives and nurses involved in maternity services across the UK in partnership with NHS Horizons. Through the project, we are aiming to learn about, share and spread ideas for innovative ways of working.”

Having hit the ground running, Becky has lots planned. “I will be organising a series of events tailored to different areas of the service over the next few months. Without giving too much away, as I want it to be a surprise, the planned events include hosting breakfasts for colleagues and mobile tea parties, providing refreshments in clinical areas where staff find it hard to get a well-deserved break.”

Becky also revealed other initiatives: “I am looking into adopting ‘15 seconds and save 30 minutes’. The message of this is that by quickly completing a small task, you can save a colleague 30 minutes further down the line. I will be running a workshop for team managers in maternity so that they can cascade it to their teams.”

Becky has also been busy working with the Black Country Local Maternity System (LMS) and has been working on a campaign to help pregnant women and their families to stop smoking. “I am in the process of setting up clinics at City and Sandwell sites. Everyone Health is now in the antenatal clinic at Sandwell on a monthly basis, offering advice not just on smoking cessation, but diabetes, obesity and other issues.

“We are also finalising plans for them to hold weekly clinics to support those who wish to stop smoking and providing nicotine replacement therapy. Once this has successfully been rolled out at Sandwell, we aim to replicate the model at City. I have also arranged for Everyone Health to set up community based clinics for smoking cessation in two of the Children’s Centres in the region and Cape Hill in Smethwick.”

Arnold Clark free car loans for Trust colleagues

 

Arnold Clark are offering free cars on loan to NHS colleagues to help them get to work. If you can drive but don’t have access to a car or are struggling with public transport this may be an option for you.

If you are interested please email csr@arnoldclark.com with your contact details which include the following:

  • Your role in the NHS
  • Your employer
  • Why you need a car
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