Monthly archives: May 2020

COVID-19 Bulletin: Monday 25 May

This is our seven days a week bulletin. Please use this bulletin and cascade arrangements within care and corporate groups to guide your actions. Throughout May and June we are determined to reduce avoidable harm and death in the people we are taking care of. Kindness remains the guiding principle of all the actions in our work to tackle the virus – kindness in how we look after patients, visitors, and one another. Important to reiterate the thanks of the Board and everyone across the local community for the sacrifices and difficult choices made in implementing our COVID-19 response plan. Colleagues have moved to hotels and caravans to keep working safely, our nursery has opened to extra places to provide emergency childcare and we have worked to create and implement some difficult and uncomfortable rules. It is really important we stick together to manage the next phase of our Pandemic response, with a focus on social distancing and habitualised handwashing. Inpatient numbers have not dropped in the last 10 days and we need to be wary of cross infection and a second surge.     Numbers not statistics: Today’s totals (Yesterday’s totals)

Number of our patients confirmed with COVID-19 during the pandemic Number of positive COVID-19 patients who have been discharged during the pandemic Number of patients who have died in our hospitals who tested positive for COVID-19 during the pandemic Number of patients entered by the Trust into a COVID-19 research trial to date Number of COVID-19 positive patients who are inpatients with us today Number of our staff absent due to ill-health or isolation today 1243 (1232) 816 (809) 346 (346) 127 (127) 81 (77) – (611)   1.           Alcohol team offers seven day service Our award-winning Alcohol care team is now operating as a seven-day service during the pandemic. The unit has seen an increase in referrals which normally come through our Emergency Departments, as a direct result of the nationwide lockdown. The Alcohol Care service is now operating as a seven days during the pandemic. Patients are presenting with a number of alcohol-related health problems including alcohol withdrawal seizures, overdoses and alcohol intoxication. A number of patients who were previously abstinent following treatment from the alcohol care team relapsed during lock down, but most of these have stopped drinking again with support and advice from the team. Colleagues who think they have a patient who needs help from the service can phone ext 5074 or select “requests” on Unity and type in Alcohol to raise a referral. 2.           Risk assessments for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) colleagues A Chief-Executive-led review meeting was held with 25 senior clinicians from many disciplines, to discuss risks associated with BAME colleagues working within our Trust. As a result of this, a number of outcomes will be announced at the end of this week in relation to how we will risk assess staff and ensure that infection control practices are followed in blue areas, as much as in red COVID-19 positive areas. A revised risk assessment tool is being finalised and will lead to defined choices about who works where, and whether enhanced PPE is available for higher risk employees.  This personalisation of PPE will need to be led by data and evidence, but it is our direction of travel as we look to make sure that we keep people safe and manage the understandable fear that many have at this time.  As before, if you are dissatisfied with the risk assessment guiding your work or PPE, you can contact your line manager, HR on ext 3116, or email Toby Lewis, Chief Executive. 3.           Uniforms – please cover up outside Colleagues are reminded that uniforms are used to protect and identify staff as well as protect patients, and during the pandemic it is especially important that all staff who wear a uniform, strictly follow the uniform policy. This means that if you have to wear your uniform whilst travelling home from work, you must cover it up so it is not identifiable, and if you must leave the site during your lunch break for a cigarette – you must ensure your uniform is completely covered. The Trust has been receiving complaints from our neighbours about seeing staff smoking on our boundary lines, which gives a poor impression of the Trust to onlookers. Uniform must absolutely not be worn outside whilst shopping. You can find the Uniform Policy on Connect here. 4.           BMEC access for patients Patients attending the Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre (BMEC) have been able to access care safely through our blue and red streams. Those needing emergency care are given a well-publicised helpline number and are screened for COVID-19 symptoms before being triaged into a red or blue area. The blue entrance for the Emergency Department is the main entrance into the building. Those who are attending ED with COVID-19 symptoms are asked to attend via the former ambulance entrance on the left hand side of the building (pictured top left). Access for those who are symptom-free and attending an outpatient appointment, is via the courtyard entrance to the right of the building. Patients are given a password during a telephone screening conversation, the day prior to their appointment. (Clockwise, from top left): The red ED entrance, blue ED access, blue outpatient entrance via the courtyard, inside the blue ED waiting area. Those who attend, who have not undergone a telephone screening conversation, will have the full screening process undertaken at the blue door by a member of staff before being directed to the correct care pathway. The BMEC helpline is: 0121 507 4440. 5.           Working From Home (WFH)  – guidance to be issued on Wednesday Further guidance on WFH will be issued on Wednesday, 27 May which will outline the next phase of how we will continue to deliver our services safely with a continued emphasis on infection control and on social distancing. This will replace the previous guidance.  It is really important that we make it simple and rewarding to work from home, fair on those who do, and those who don’t – and we support people managing those who WFH. Please remember to talk now to your line manager about your annual leave plans so that we can make sure any recovery services we set up run smoothly and we keep our promises to our patients. PDRs can be done by WebEx!  The Connect Coronavirus page is continually being updated with the latest news and guidance regarding the virus, please take the time to read and familiarise yourself with the available guidance.

COVID-19 Bulletin: Sunday 24 May

This is our seven days a week bulletin. Please use this bulletin and cascade arrangements within care and corporate groups to guide your actions. Throughout May and June we are determined to reduce avoidable harm and death in the people we are taking care of. Kindness remains the guiding principle of all the actions in our work to tackle the virus – kindness in how we look after patients, visitors, and one another.

By this time next week (end of May) we expect to be able to confirm plans for when different phases of redeployment will come to an end.  We will also have issued further guidance on Working From Home and on second jobs/private income. None of this indicates that the Pandemic is coming to an end.  Instead it is the next phase of the marathon, with a continued emphasis on infection control, and on social distancing.  Please remember to talk now to your line manager about your annual leave plans so that we can make sure any recovery services we set up run smoothly and we keep our promises to our patients.  This week has seen a great start to #greenshoots in the BTC!

Numbers not statistics: Today’s totals (Yesterday’s totals)

1. Get fit tested for a face mask this weekend!

 PPE stocks are ever changing as stocks are replenished and new masks become available. It’s critical that colleagues stay up to date with the availability of masks that they have been fit tested for.

We have been advised that delivery of Alpha 3030V masks will be delayed until mid-June, and while we await delivery of both them and Alpha S 3V masks, we urge colleagues to get fit tested on a 3M 1873 or 3M 1863 FFP3 mask, as there is plenty of fit testing capacity and crucially we have over 29,000 of these masks in stock.

Fit testing clinics are running over the bank holiday weekend from 8am to 8pm at the outpatients clinic on first floor at Sandwell and on the first floor near the rehab gym at the front of City. Please book your appointment on 5050, or if you’re not able to do that, pop up to the clinics at a time to suit you and see if they can fit you in.

2. BMJ Best Practice – Staying up to date with the latest findings

BMJ Best Practice (https://bestpractice.bmj.com) is constantly updating their guidance on COVID-19. It has just published a new topic on the management of co-existing conditions in the context of COVID-19. The topic has recently been updated with recommendations for newborn care, patients who require anticoagulation, and the management of diabetes, community-acquired pneumonia, hospital-acquired pneumonia, epistaxis, and multiple myeloma. It also covers the issue of mental health in healthcare workers.

To access all of BMJ Best Practice register for an OpenAthens account here https://openathens.nice.org.uk/. Contact the library at swbh.library@nhs.net for more information or help.

3. Access to the pharmacy this bank holiday weekend

The pharmacy will be operating the usual weekend service over the bank holiday weekend with the dispensaries at Sandwell and City operating from 9am through to 4:30pm.

Please ensure all orders are inputted in to Unity as the last items will be dispensed at 4:30pm.

City dispensary can be contacted on ext 5263 and Sandwell dispensary on ext. 3783.

4. Take the time to look after your wellbeing – Book in to the Wellbeing Sanctuary

Your health and wellbeing remains paramount which is why we opened our COVID-19 wellbeing sanctuary based at The Learning Works, Unett Street, Smethwick, and would recommend you take advantage of what is on offer. The Sanctuary is accessible to all colleagues and offers a range of health and wellbeing activities. You can also pop in for a coffee and chat, or just to relax. Daily sanctuary sessions include:

• Deep Relaxation and Breathing through Soundscape – Travel from the peaks of the Himalayas to the depths of the oceans of Bali relaxing in harmonious tranquillity.
• Music Therapy – A time to find inner stillness through the tranquillity of relaxing sound vibrations.
• Restorative Clinical Supervision (Health and Wellbeing Lead) –  A safe and confidential space to explore the impact of work pressures.
• Unwind with Mindfulness – Breathe and Relax. Enjoy the power of connection and self-kindness.

Many colleagues are already taking advantage of the services on offer. A ward services officer who has been visiting the Wellbeing Sanctuary on a regular basis told us. “I have been off work with anxiety and the help I am getting here is really helping me to get my mind ready so I am able to return to work. The colleagues here are wonderful, I would definitely recommend it.”

Sessions last between 20 and 40 minutes. See the full timetable here. You can book a session by calling 0121 507 5886.

5. Infection control: Don’t use fans, instead open windows

With the temperature rising in wards, areas and departments due to the summer months approaching, we’re strongly encouraging all colleagues to open windows for better circulation.

Do not use fans.

Using fans can disperse airborne particles which could increase the spread of COVID-19. Fans cannot be properly cleaned to meet our infection control standards which could result in the increased risk of transmission of any microorganisms.

By opening windows during the summer months it will help increase the natural ventilation around wards and departments. This enables greater dispersal of any airborne particles.

If you need further advice you can contact the infection control team on ext. 5900 or email swb-tr.SWBH-Team-InfectionControl@nhs.net

COVID-19 Bulletin: Saturday 23 May

This is our seven days a week bulletin. Please use this bulletin and cascade arrangements within care and corporate groups to guide your actions. Throughout May we are determined to reduce avoidable harm and death in the people we are taking care of. Kindness remains the guiding principle of all the actions in our work to tackle the virus – kindness in how we look after patients, visitors, and one another.

The heart of our response to COVID-19 is making sure Infection Control practices are our norm.  That includes cleaning – we have a Green touchpoint brigade in place, and many more WSOs.  Sandwell Hospital’s wards are currently undergoing their first comprehensive Deep Clean in a decade with wards being decanted into Newton 1 and out again while we clean each ward.  Get in touch with Chief Nurse, Paula Gardner if you wish to know more.  It is incredibly important that we all speak up if we see things that have been missed and it is ok to ask if someone forgets to clean their hands.

Numbers not statistics: Today’s totals (Yesterday’s totals)

1. Preeti good!  Library team summarises COVID-19 knowledge

Learning and knowledge are at the heart of our work to tackle the virus.  So, very regularly, our expert librarians, led by Preeti Puligari, summarise the state of research in their daily COVID-19 evidence update which you can access via the Library Service pages on Connect https://connect2.swbh.nhs.uk/library-and-information-services/covid-19-2/

Contact SWB Library Services on swbh.library@nhs.net for more information.

Doctors working for the NHS have free access to a variety of medical content via NHS OpenAthens. To support the NHS in its COVID-19 response, Oxford University Press has worked with Health Education England and NICE to make the Oxford Medicine textbook and other books freely available until the end of COVID-19 pandemic.

Oxford Medicine Online portal is enabled on all SWB Athens User profiles and our staff/students can access all the Oxford Handbook series/Textbook and other e-book titles from different specialties.   All you need is SWB Athens login, if have do not have one, you can register at: https://openathens.nice.org.uk/

2. Have you started using Visionable in your outpatient clinics?

The Visionable system is in use across outpatients and is our default system to use for clinic appointments.  A handful of pre-agreed exceptions for certain circumstances will be in place where a face-to-face appointment is necessary. Visionable enables clinicians to see patients safely whilst practicing social distancing. It also supports the involvement of family members who do not live locally.  We are working on integrating translation material into the tool.

Consultant Paediatrician Nick Makwana demonstrates how you can conduct a typical outpatient consultation in the video above.  Further information is available in the attached Standard Operating Procedure.  If you would like more information or you would like to like to make use of Visionable in your clinic, contact Mark Whitehouse on markwhitehouse@nhs.net

If you are reading this and run a clinic, as a therapist, nurse or doctor, please get in touch with Mark as it is matter of when you start….

3. Let your mental health Thrive using our new wellbeing app

Sometimes we can all feel like things are getting on top of us. That’s why we have partnered with Thrive to give you exclusive access to an award winning mental health and wellbeing app that can help with managing depression, anxiety and stress.

The app tackles common stressors such as sleep, bereavements, work issues and more. It also signposts to external support services – with users able to seek immediate help directly from the app.

1. Go to https://swb.thrive.uk.com/ to create an account and claim your free access to Thrive.
2. visit the Google Play or App Store and search and download the Thrive: Mental Wellbeing app.
3. Log in using the email and password you created your account with and enjoy using the app

To find out more about how Thrive can help you, and how to access it, click here.

You can also access the full range of health and wellbeing support on Connect.

4. Reflect, Relax and Recharge

The Recharge Booth is a ‘virtual’ space that allows you to come together with others and join a safe and confidential discussion. You can get involved with the booth by either listening in or by sharing your story. These stories are important learning for all of us.

Please consider if sharing your experience would help you or us. The Recharge Booth will be open every Thursday from 2pm for 20-30 minutes to hear a different story each time from a colleague who has put themselves forward to share an experience that they want to talk about – it can be anything but likely to be COVID-19 related to begin with.

For more information please contact Richard Burnell on 07747 144874 or Claire Hubbard on 07866 004575.  If you would like to be part of the Recharge Booth, drop an email to swbh.rechargebooth@nhs.net.  A WebEx invite will be sent to your outlook diary, and you will simply need to click on the ‘join’ button to enter.  You do not have to speak, you can just listen!

COVID-19 Bulletin: Friday 22 May

This is our seven days a week bulletin. Please use this bulletin and cascade arrangements within care and corporate groups to guide your actions. Throughout May we are determined to reduce avoidable harm and death in the people we are taking care of. Kindness remains the guiding principle of all the actions in our work to tackle the virus – kindness in how we look after patients, visitors, and one another.

 As advertised in Toby’s message, we continue to listen to ideas and voices from staff from black and minority ethnic backgrounds about what more we can do to tackle elevated risk.  Today we held a seminar with 25 senior clinicians drawn from across the Trust to develop ideas, and over the next week we are finalising a revised risk assessment tool which seeks to integrate underlying health status, age, gender and ethnicity.  The current expectation is that medium-risk individuals from that new assessment will have a different PPE prescription during June.  Across the Trust however, the main focus has to remain for all of us on Handwashing and Social Distancing!

Numbers not statistics: Today’s totals (Yesterday’s totals)

1. Fit testing clinics are running this weekend and Bank Holiday

We have been advised that delivery of Alpha 3030V masks will be delayed until mid-June, and while we await delivery of both them and Alpha S 3V masks, we urge colleagues to get fit tested on a 3M 1873 or 3M 1863 FFP3 mask, as there is plenty of fit testing capacity and we have over 29,000 of these masks in stock. Fit testing clinics are running over the bank holiday weekend from 8am to 8pm at the outpatients clinic on first floor at Sandwell and on the first floor near the rehab gym at the front of City. Please book your appointment on 5050, or if you’re not able to do that, pop up to the clinics at a time to suit you and see if they can fit you in.

2. Guidance on cleaning bed spaces

Colleagues are reminded that it is vitally important that once patients are discharged the bed space is thoroughly cleaned. To help you we have produced the following poster which demonstrates the correct procedure for effective cleaning. You can view it here:

3. Birmingham Treatment Centre now open with clear processes for access and care of patients

As you know the Treatment Centre (BTC) is back up and running, providing day case surgery and some clinical appointments for patients in a safe and controlled environment. Please look at the processes we have designed to ensure the continued safety of colleagues and patients as we move forward with our recovery. The separate entrance and lay-out will help provide reassurance that services are separated from acute COVID-19 care with new markings on the floor to support social distancing, perspex screens to protect staff, new handwashing zones and new flooring. You can view both diagrams on Connect by clicking on process for patient arrival and clinic room process.

 4. Evidence Updates and Research portfolio for COVID-19

A lot of information and research is being published on COVID-19. To make it easier to digest information on this rapidly changing situation, SWB Library and Knowledge Services are producing daily updates that highlight the latest evidence from NICE Rapid Reviews, guidelines from Royal Colleges and professional bodies, SWB Trials update, WHO situation reports, rapid evidence summaries from Oxford CEBM, education/training resources for all healthcare staff and healthcare technology news.

The Library page on Connect has a new section on COVID-19 evidence updates. Rapid evidence summaries by the SWB Therapeutic team to support Clinical Advisory Group are also included as part of these updates. Library services are keen to help with any literature search requests you might have that are related to COVID-19. Please email your topic request to swbh.library@nhs.net

COVID-19 Research Pass (CRP) program is now available for all SWB clinical staff who are studying or writing about COVID-19.This programme will give you access to over 26 million full text articles. You can apply for the pass at https://covid19.readcube.com.

5. Property store opening times

The property room is available for the storage of deceased patient’s property until their families are able to come to site to collect it following the easing of lockdown restrictions.

The store at Sandwell is the Berridge room in the courtyard next to occupational health while at City it is the Anne Gibson rooms. The new opening time for the receipt of the property is 11am to 1pm. Monday to Friday. (Bank holiday Monday excluded).

Chief Executive’s Message – Friday 22 May

Our star of the week this week, Dr Rebecca Edwards, is again someone recognised for their role in the compassionate care of people who are dying.  Last week I highlighted the role of Leasowes in operation Mary Seacole.  Rebecca’s selection reflected the tone and decency of conversations she was able to have with families.  Time and again, we find that seemingly incidental details of how we speak, or what we say, make so very much difference to someone.

Improving the delivery of the choice of where someone dies remains on the key priorities of the Trust’s Quality Plan – before COVID-19, right now, and in the future.  At the same time we are thinking through how the increased awareness for some people and their families about the need to make plans, including advanced care plans, can help us in the future to offer a more respectful and joined up approach across all health sectors and the care and residential sector too.  The subject is the special focus for the June 4^th Board meeting, and I notice that professional guidance on end of life conversations during the pandemic has been issued to the NHS across the Midlands – encouragingly that guidance seems to reflect our practice since mid-March.

Earlier this week, we saw changes made by government to their policy on charging care workers from overseas and their families for use of the NHS.  In a Trust with people drawn from all over the world, this is welcome and overdue at the same time.  The Trust, through projects like Health Overseas Professionals (HOP), is going the very extra mile to make sure that talented people who have fled persecution, or disease, are able to enter the workforce in primary or secondary care.  And of course we continue to recruit overseas and have future plans to undertake more of those activities.  Clearly economic circumstance will drive labour markets for some time to come, as the region and country brace for a deep recession.  There is an opportunity amid that difficulty for us to succeed at recruitment as almost never before, and we need to make sure that this summer we are diligent in pursuing opportunities to have more people join us.  We started April with about a 7% vacancy rate and that continues to fall, after we halved vacancies during 2019.  We need to tell people what working here is like and why joining us on our journey to better preventative care and to a research-led University Hospital meets their hopes and dreams.

COVID-19 plans continue to evolve.  Antibody testing remains part of that work during June, although like tracing, there are many details yet to define and locally apply.  In June and July we are encouraging you to take time away from work where you can, and later in July we will take a longer term view of annual leave plans, funding, and arrangements for 2021.  Most work is continuing now in two broad areas: 

Firstly resetting our lilac, blue and red wards to make sure they are right-sized for where we are now in the pandemic.  Remember that tracing when it restarts will come with both patient and staff quarantine arrangements, and so lilac spaces may have a different role.  On both acute sites we are moving to a smaller number of designated red wards with some specialty bays in stroke, cardiac medicine and respiratory, after carefully assessing that option against simply using side rooms across our sites.  The Trust has done a great deal of work on rates of cross infection since March, and whilst there are examples of nodes of spread in specific wards in specific weeks, the overall data shows comparatively low rates against expected regional norms.  What this means is that there is precisely no room for any let-up or complacency.  Social distancing and handwashing remain the two chief approaches we need to take, and reinforcing that view among ourselves, and with patients, could not be more important.

At the same time, or secondly, we continue our Recovery work – #greenshoots as we chose to label it – whereby some diagnostic work, some video enabled clinics, and some operations are taking place, especially at Rowley Regis and in our Birmingham Treatment Centre.  The clarity of that transition will step up over the coming fortnight, and we should by the end of May (next week) be able to be definitive about redeployment end-dates and moves to alter rotas and rosters.  That is one of the reasons we need a little forward planning on leave, as we categorically must avoid inviting someone who has waited in pain at home to come for care, only to lose that service to short notice absence.

Today I met, alongside David Carruthers, with twenty five senior clinicians from many disciplines, to discuss risks associated with NHS work as someone from a black or minority ethnic community.  The outcome of those really engaging and positive discussions will be announced at the end of next week, but I took from our conversations two things in particular.  The first was gratitude to teams like our PPE squad, and procurement teams, and others, who have worked tirelessly to give comparatively good supplies and a can-do attitude.  But secondly that in less-red, more-blue areas of work there remains concern about exposure and about practice.  The revised risk assessment tool that we are finalising, synthesising lots of national tools, but making sense of our own local circumstance, will lead to defined choices about who works where, and whether enhanced PPE is available for higher risk employees.  This personalisation of PPE will need to be led by data and evidence, but it is our direction of travel as we look to make sure that we keep people safe and manage the understandable fear that many have at this time.  As before, if you are dissatisfied with the risk assessment guiding your work or PPE you can contact your line manager, extension 3116, or me.

This weekend marks the end of a very unique Ramadan.  I want to wish colleagues Eid Mubarak and hope that the very different arrangements have nonetheless offered fellowship and devotion as you would wish.  None of us have certainty on how the coming month will develop, but all of us I hope can take some comfort from the work we are doing to look after one another and our communities.

Please be assured that the Trust, consistent with our values, is campaigning hard to see the NHS at the forefront of a regeneration response to the recession.  That response should include making our Real Living Wage something that is taken up more widely across our local STP.  Poverty remains a health issue – and it is staggeringly sad that a once in a century virus has had to reinforce the price of inequality and the cost of inaction.

#hellomynameisToby

Drug safety notice: Diamorphine 5mg and 10mg injections shortage

There have been intermittent supply issues with Diamorphine 5mg and 10mg injections. For this reason stock has been reserved for specific designated areas. To ensure the existing Diamorphine stock is used effectively, a supply of Diamorphine prefilled injection has been obtained consisting of 500 micrograms in 0.5 ml sodium chloride 0.9 per cent for use when smaller doses are required.

Please see Diamorphine 5mg and 10mg information sheet for further details.

For more information please contact the pharmacy department (City ext. 5263, Sandwell ext. 3783).

Heartbeat: COVID-19 positive nurse urges people to seek hospital help for disease

Colleague Charlene Nelson who battled coronavirus has urged people to seek medical help sooner if they feel they are deteriorating. The nurse, who is currently recovering at her home, was able to fight off the disease after spending just under a week in the hospital.

Charlene, who works as a bank nurse at Sandwell Hospital, said she started suffering shortness of breath on 12 April. “I just couldn’t breathe. I called for an ambulance, and it all felt like a big blur. I got into A&E and I was put into isolation because of my symptoms.”

Charlene was taken to Sandwell Hospital and said: “If I hadn’t dialled 999, who knows what sort of condition I would be in now. The care I received was brilliant, and colleagues are doing everything they can to help patients. I am so much better than I was a week ago. I’m just glad that I got treatment when I did.”

She added: “I was treated with antibiotics and tested for coronavirus. Because of my kidney condition, I was transferred to another hospital for further treatment. My results for COVID-19 came back positive. I was in a bad way for the first two days, and I was very scared. I soon started responding to the treatment and began improving.”

“I think there may be people out there who think they don’t need to go to the hospital or believe that their situation will worsen if they do go. However, my condition improved. I would also like to strongly urge people to stay indoors to protect those who are most vulnerable in our society.”

Charlene said she doesn’t know how she contracted the disease as she had been wearing the correct PPE during her time working at the hospital and had not been treating COVID-19 patients. “It could have been from handling post or when I was food shopping. I suppose we’ll never know where I got it from, which just shows how cautious we need to be.”

National Epilepsy Week

Did you know this week is National Epilepsy Week? National Epilepsy Week aims to raise awareness of those affected by epilepsy, what epilepsy is, who’s affected and what can be done to help those who suffer from this condition.

Approximately 500,000 people across the country each year are diagnosed with epilepsy. It can affect people of all ages, from newborns to the elderly. Epilepsy is a complex and often misunderstood condition.

For more information around National Epilepsy Week and epilepsy itself, please contact Denise Hughes, Clinical Nurse Specialist in Epilepsy on ext. 6275 or by email at d.hughes9@nhs.net.

Heartbeat: Morine on the road to recovery following coronavirus scare

A care manager from a Halesowen based housing association is urging everyone to take the coronavirus seriously.

Morine Burrell-Banton is on the road to recovery at home after being discharged from hospital on 7 April. “As most people would be, I was initially scared about contracting the virus but all the nurses and doctors were fantastic in helping me get better,” said Morine.

Morine was admitted to City Hospital site on 4 April after experiencing a higher temperature than normal and a persistent cough. She initially self-isolated, but after her symptoms gradually got worse and her health started to deteriorate further, she was admitted to hospital where she spent three days in our care.

She said: “All the staff were great and very attentive to everything I needed even though they were busy with lots of other patients as well as me. I believe this is one of the main reasons for helping me stay positive but more importantly, it aided my recovery to better health.”

Since her discharge, hour by hour, day by day, Morine is slowly getting back to 100 per cent, however, she is pleading with the public to follow the social distancing guidance and only go out for essential journeys.

“It’s disappointing that there are still some people choosing to ignore the advice from the government. Coronavirus is no joke and something we should all take very seriously. Though the majority of people are eventually getting better, unfortunately, some people are still dying which is why everyone must follow the guidance. The virus doesn’t discriminate.”

Morine is currently resting at home with her family and hopes to return to work once the lockdown restrictions have been lifted.

COVID-19 Bulletin: Thursday 21 May

This is our seven days a week bulletin. Please use this bulletin and cascade arrangements within care and corporate groups to guide your actions. Throughout May we are determined to reduce avoidable harm and death in the people we are taking care of. Kindness remains the guiding principle of all the actions in our work to tackle the virus – kindness in how we look after patients, visitors, and one another.

Tonight, and over coming days, we will see some national publicity about Antibody Testing.  This is welcome, but worth stressing two things.  The products are not an immunity passport.  And secondly, as we have seen with testing to date rollout often takes longer than advertised as new problems arise.  Probably best to keep attention on this bulletin for the real local detail which we expect to be better able to announce after the coming bank holiday. 

Numbers not statistics: Today’s totals (Yesterday’s totals)

1. Support for our diabetic patients and colleagues

There is now extra support in place for people with diabetes to help them manage their condition during the pandemic. This follows new data that has been released about the COVID-19 risks to those with the illness. A national helpline has been launched as a direct result of this which we can share with our patients and colleagues who need help with insulin management. There is also additional support from online education services for type 1 and type 2 diabetes to help them to manage their condition better.

Video consultations and online appointments, as well as routine discussions with GPs, are among a range of measures that we have adopted so that diabetes care can continue throughout the pandemic. To find out more about support for diabetic patients click here. The helpline number is 0345 123 2399.

2. COVID-19 result – patient discharge summary

Clinical colleagues are able to view a patient’s COVID-19 confirmed result on the patient discharge summary under the Safety Alert section (see image below). The “presented” refers to the date the swab was taken. This result will be seen by GPs and other clinical colleagues who have access to the patient’s discharge summary.

3. Free access to bikes for Sandwell colleagues 

All colleagues are now able to take advantage of a new scheme launched by Sandwell Council which is offering free access to bikes. The council’s public health team is working in partnership with Cycling UK to enable key workers to have the opportunity to cycle to and from work during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The scheme is open to any NHS or health and social care worker who lives or works in Sandwell and still needs to commute or travel for work on a regular basis during the lockdown.

The government advice is to walk or cycle whenever possible T The government advice is to walk or cycle where possible and this scheme allows people who might not already have a bike to try cycling as an alternative form of transport. As well as being great for our health, cycling is also far better for the environment.

The bikes are supplied with lights, a helmet and a bicycle basket. Anyone who cannot collect a bike can have it delivered to their home free of charge. For more details go to www.sandwellbikehire.com and to register your interest please contact staffbike_pool@sandwel.gov.uk or 07976 556676.

4. Infection control message: Do not use fans, instead open windows 

With the temperature rising in wards, areas and departments due to the summer months approaching, we’re strongly encouraging all colleagues to open windows for better circulation.

 Do not use fans.

Using fans can disperse airborne particles which could increase the spread of COVID-19. Fans cannot be properly cleaned to meet our infection control standards which could result in the increased risk of transmission of any microorganisms.

By opening windows during the summer months it will help increase the natural ventilation around wards and departments. This enables greater dispersal of any airborne particles.

If you need further advice you can contact the infection control team on ext. 5900 or email swb-tr.SWBH-Team-InfectionControl@nhs.net.

5. Looking after your skin beneath PPE

We recognise that that is a crucial issue for you.  There is more we need to do and we welcome your ideas and innovations.

Here is a useful guide from the tissue viability to help you protect and treat your skin from damage beneath PPE. The tissue viability team are available to offer advice to any colleague who is concerned about the condition of their skin from wearing the PPE masks.  You can get hold of them via tissueviability2@nhs.net or urgently through Lesley McDonagh on 07976 133 426 or Pat Flaherty on 07976 133 427.  The team are already visiting red departments to see if there are any colleagues who are concerned about their skin due to the PPE masks.