COVID-19 Bulletin: Monday 11 May
May 11, 2020
This is our every night 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.
Last night’s Prime Ministerial “roadmap” explained that the economic issues and care issues are both twin challenges to be faced, and that is reflected in our work to date. The guidance on returning to work, school, and other activities does not alter any existing Trust arrangements put in place for the Pandemic. The Working From Home guidance we have remains in place and is being reviewed via last week’s questionnaire and this week’s WebEx. We will revisit the social distancing arrangements for all office based environments during May to ensure we comply with soon-to-be published HSE requirements. Car parking remains free and nationally funded presently, albeit our available car parking will lessen in June as construction works kicks off on our new Car Parks!
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 |
| 1116
(1116) |
725
(727) |
318
(313) |
105
(105) |
73
(76) |
592
(605) |
1. Visionable – “new normal” for care locally
Visionable is our online tool that enables us to hold virtual clinics with patients via a videolink working from both laptops or desktops. Patients can use their mobile phones or a tablets. The Visionable system is now available for colleagues and will be the 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.
To see how Visionable works look at the film here where Consultant Paediatrician Nick Makwana demonstrates a typical virtual consultation using the Visionable platform. Further information on the usage is available in the attached Standard Operating Procedure.
For more information on the new system or to obtain your access, contact Mark Whitehouse on markwhitehouse@nhs.net
2. Birmingham’s Treatment Centre reopens today #greenshoots
Today the Treatment Centre (BTC) opened up to patients with thanks to the Big Clean Up operation undertaken by our Ward Services team. You will notice some changes to the area, including markings on the floor to support social distancing, perspex screens to protect staff, new handwashing zones and new flooring. It’s all part of our six week programme of recovery and restoration. Later this week surgical procedures, diagnostics and essential face-to-face clinical appointments will resume.
The separate entrance and lay-out will help provide reassurance that services are separated from acute COVID-19 care which is why we are starting our #greenshoots work here. Over the coming days we will work with staff involved on how the new BTC will operate over a six or seven day week. It’s a big change for catering staff, ward service officers, reception staff and clinicians.
Watch the video below to see the changes that have been made.
3. Collection arrangements for patient property
Arrangements have been made for relatives to collect patient belongings from locations at City and Sandwell Hospitals to avoid the need to attend a clinical area. These are at:
- The Berridge Room, in the corner of the courtyard next door to Occupational Health (Sandwell Hospital).
- Anne Gibson Rooms, Shuttle bus pick up point (City Hospital).
Items can be deposited there each day and relatives can arrange a time to collect belongings.
Please follow the guidance here to ensure that belongings are labelled and bagged appropriately.
4. Working from home survey closes tomorrow: Have your say
Anyone working from home is also asked to take 10 minutes to complete this short survey – https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/SWBWFH2020 to share your views and ideas on what has worked well and what has been difficult. This will help to inform the Trust’s future home working guidance. The survey will close at 5pm on Tuesday.
You can also join a WebEx specifically for people who have been working from home at 14.30 on Thursday 14 May to put forward your experiences and ask any questions.
Visit: https://swbhnhsevents.webex.com/swbhnhsevents/onstage/g.php?MTID=ece1a91f23682a8cbe9f39af46f2936a4 to join.
The meeting password is SWBWFH.
5. Sampling for COVID-19 **PLEASE NOTE – Change to swab type** from 13 May 2020
From 13 May black dry swabs must be used for COVID-19 tests.
Yellow Cobas swabs should no longer be sent for COVID-19 PCR. It may not be possible to process the yellow swabs if sent after 13 May.
Please click here for more information regarding the change of swabs.
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