COVID-19 Bulletin: Friday 1 May
May 1, 2020
This is our every single day bulletin. Please use this bulletin and cascade arrangements within care and corporate groups to guide your actions. Remember KINDNESS is our watchword in implementing our plans. Throughout May we are determined to reduce avoidable harm and death in the people we are taking care of.
Hand-washing week next week! It is hand washing week every week of course but in the week ahead we want to ‘go again’ with our emphasis on this key action for patients, the handful of visitors, and all of us, students, volunteers and staff. How many times a day? In your hotel or at home? Do you sing and if so what? Are you lathering enough? Back of the hand, both hands. The benchmark is 70 and was set on the Chief Executive’s WebEx on Wednesday. Let’s make it part of what we do round here…
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 |
| 1009 (989) | 607 (585) |
293 (287) |
96 (91) |
109 (117) |
537 (574) |
1. We are recruiting, tell your friends…
We know that the real economy is going to face the impact of recession in the months ahead. We know that unemployment is a health issue. We know that people want to work, and we want to train and to employ. The Trust continues to look for talented individuals to join our team, with vacancies in a number of areas. Colleagues who recommend a friend who is then appointed will receive £100 along with the new recruit. Remember for many services, as Covid is surmounted, we get ready for the big move to Midland Met – so there has never been a better time to join the Trust.You never know when the next opportunity may arise – so keep informed of new opportunities for on NHS Jobs, as well as our recruitment page on Facebook and official LinkedIn account. The Trust is exploring how job roles may change as a result of Covid-19, and in particular how we support hybrid roles for people working in different jobs, with the variety of a brigade or the span some of our clinical redeployees are really enjoying.
2. BTC and BMEC set to scrub up well
The best way to stay safe and to prevent the virus from spreading is by keeping yourself and our premises clean. This is why it is all the more important right now to arrange for deep cleans to be carried out.
In preparation for our recovery phase we are deep cleaning the Birmingham Treatment Centre, which includes all theatres, clinical areas and public areas over this weekend. The Trust is getting ready to re-start some selected clinical work for non-Covid planned patients. Again, important to get the word out, as the country moves through coming changes to lock-down.
3. Shielding: Let’s learn from you
About 150 Trust employees are currently shielding. Remember if that is you, you must provide the right documentation to our Human Resources function. We will be regularly in contact with you through our Wellbeing Team at this tricky and difficult time.
Ten days ago we issued over 2,500 further patient facing shielding requests. As that implies we are expecting shielding to continue in some form beyond the initial changes to lockdown which could arise in May.
We are working with primary care colleagues generally and Trust GPs and community teams in particular to think through how best we support people shielding. We will be in touch next week with ‘our own’ shielders to ask that question, but through your local management team do let us know how you and your service feels we could best support the shielding community. As time goes by clinical advice beyond stay home is needed and we will be working to mobilise specific teams to ensure we reach everyone in our community facing a prolonged period of separation.
4. Supporting Black and Minority Ethnic employees
Earlier this week we included revised guidance in this bulletin associated with elevated risk and elevated anxiety among BaME key workers about Covid-19. The commitment to address both the evidence and the concern is absolute. NHS Employers have just ssued useful advice on how the issue may best be addressed by health service organisations. Reviewing that suggests the Trust is already doing all of this best practice, although we need to check that that work is happening everywhere. However, if you remain concerned and wish a new Risk Assessment of your work practice to be carried out, or an existing risk assessment to be challenged, please do any of the following three things:
- Talk to your line manager who will work through the options with you
- Contact our HR advice line on 3116 who will work ‘independently’ with you
- Contact tobylewis@nhs.net who is the executive sponsor for the Trust’s Black and Minority Ethnic Staff Network, who will oversee work to support you
5. May Bank Holiday, it’s different
Friday May 8th is the first bank holiday, not Monday. But other than that it’s going to be normal. So thank you to everyone who worked differently over the Easter Bank Holiday at our first Surge peak. Whilst none of us can predict the future, our current plan is for this first May bank holiday to be just that. If you don’t have to work, #stayhomesavelives.
Toby recently took part in a conversation with podcaster Desmond Jaddoo to tackle a local viral video about care with COVID-19, as well as to discuss candidly local and national data on gender, age and ethnicity. You can watch that video here. The Trust continues to advocate for enquiries into national data on ethnicity and Covid-19 to help inform care and practice.