COVID-19 Bulletin: Thursday 21 May
May 21, 2020
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)
| 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 |
| 1223
(1213) |
795
(793) |
341
(340) |
124
(120) |
87
(80) |
537
(555) |
- 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.