COVID-19 bulletin: Thursday 2 April
April 2, 2020
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.
We will be issuing revised Working From Home guidance on Tuesday 7th, and some outline ideas for re-deployment of non-clinical staff to help in the fight tomorrow afternoon for feedback over the weekend. Everyone has a part to play in what our communities are facing: Everyone matters.
1. Easter will need to be a standard working night and day this year – needs must, with regret
In one week’s time there is four day bank holiday weekend. The expected COVID-19 Surge is likely to be here in the Black Country and West Birmingham that very weekend (10th-14th). On that basis, and like all NHS neighbours, we now have to confirm that all of those days will need to be staffed as standard days. Of course in truth, nothing is normal now, and the word standard is a poor substitute. But we mean that Friday and Monday will be the same as our routine acute, diagnostic and clinical support staffing, as per our COVID-19 Surge Plan. The exact weekend detail will be worked through in each clinical group and be circulated before Tuesday. Until you hear, assume that weekend is an emergency weekday.
We would all recognise that this is decided with regret, but we have to build on the amazing work being done to be ready with hundreds of trained and re-deployed staff gearing up.
2. Mark talks about how to wear your PPE
PPE guidance comes out a lot. Even though we now have pictures of what to wear outside every ward, it is confusing and can become confused.
Dr Mark Anderson, general internal medicine consultant, gastroenterologist and Deputy Medical Director has been walking the Trust listening to your views on PPE. With that feedback in mind Mark has made this short film of advice. Take a look. He’s right.
3. Use, but please do not misuse (FIT, FIT, FIT..)
We briefed you yesterday on seven day a week fit testing. Phoning ext.5050 is the way to get yourself booked in. Now is the time to get tested on the PPE we need you to wear to stay safe. Our guidance on facial hair (clean shaven) reflects updated religious and faith leader guidance at this unique moment.
Whilst PPE and scrub supply is a real issue of collective concern, please can we appeal here to you not to wear unsterile surgical gowns and then cut holes in the cuffs to create a thumb loop. This creates risks if the gowns are used in sterile environments like theatres. Gowns should only be worn when carrying out Aerosol generating procedures. We have short supply and damaged stock risks harm to us all.
4. Death announcements from PHE / NHS England
All of us will recognise that the number of people dying with COVID-19 is rising in the country, and the Black Country remains a “hotspot”, with more deaths than in many other places. Each death is individual, a tragedy and never a statistic. Local rates may reflect the underlying nature of respiratory disease in our communities as one explanation. The impact of this on staff and families is huge and yesterday’s bulletin highlighted the psychological support services available.
Deaths in our care from COVID-19 are only announced nationally once COVID Positive status is confirmed. That can happen some days after death. In addition, we contact next of kin to talk to them about COVID-19, their own next steps and the national announcements. Only after that is complete do deaths get announced in daily national press releases, and sometimes there is a delay in such announcements. As you see rising numbers of deaths in our care it is understandable that you will feel greater concern, and we will try to discuss this openly. However, be aware that the exact timing of announcements may not reflect the timing of deaths.
5. Donations and support update
Over the last month we have benefitted from some fantastic donations to support the work that we do. We know there is gratitude for the help and it builds a sense that those around us are with us. That will continue and we will work to ensure that all staff who work here benefit when we are distributing donations – all disciplines and both in and out hospitals.
Over coming weeks, we will be working with partners to make sure donations that would benefit local communities, support groups and some of the most vulnerable in our society are diverted to those groups. Gurdwara Aid and some local schools are already helping us to make a reality. This reflects the fact that whilst we are exhausted and time-poor many in our communities have seen their income and social association dwindle since COVID-19. If you yourself are experiencing financial pressure, perhaps because someone in your family is no longer working, please remember the advice and debt support that the Trust offers as well as, in extremis, access to emergency financial support through our charity under a small number of very severe circumstances.
Emotional, physical and sexual abuse has risen UK-wide and locally since the start of social distancing and #stayathome. It is worth remembering this enhance risk among those we serve and worth highlighting the services we can provide if someone on our staff or among our student body is themselves at risk.