COVID-19 Bulletin: Monday 1 June

June 1, 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 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.

The NHS Test and Trace service began in earnest on Friday. Identifying people who have had close contact with people who have tested positive for COVID-19 is important to allow self-isolation that minimises the risk of the virus spreading. If you are contacted by the service and advised to self-isolate please do so. We must adhere to the guidelines so that we avoid the risk of transmission to others. Please advise your line manager and, if you are unsure, you can talk to our Occupational Health service.  If your contact was less extensive than that which might provide for transmission then you may come to work.

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

1. Antibody testing is underway – book your test now

Antibody testing is now underway across our Trust and over 2200 colleagues have already taken the time to book in for their test. Over 630 tests will be carried out today, with results being available within 72hours of having the test.

Any staff member can arrange a blood test, whether you have previously had a positive or negative test result for COVID-19 or no COVID-19 test previously. For the test to be accurate you must have no COVID-19 symptoms and be symptom-free for at least 21 days.  

The presence of antibodies is no guarantee against catching or spreading COVID-19 so it remains really important to wash hands thoroughly on a regular basis and maintain social distancing both in the workplace and at home, regardless of the results of your antibody test.

To book a test please call 0121 507 6104 and select option 2 when prompted.

You can find out more in this questions and answers document. For more information please click here.

2. Visionable – Enabling clinicians to engage with patients

Visionable is the our Trust’s virtual consultation solution, enabling our clinical colleagues to engage with patients without the need for patients to travel to hospital. The new system enables clinicians to see patients safely whilst practicing social distancing. It also supports the involvement of family members who do not live locally.

Further information is available in the attached Standard Operating Procedure.

If you would like more information or to ensure you can be set up to use Visionable in your clinic, contact Mark Whitehouse on markwhitehouse@nhs.net

3. Red, Blue &  Lilac wards – patient pathways

It is vital that our inpatients are placed in the right care environments (red, blue or lilac wards / bays) and swabbed appropriately, with the results of the swabs informing the next stages in their care. Please ensure you read the linked Patient Swabbing Pathway which illustrates the points at which patients must be swabbed and how they will be supported through our services.

Patient Swabbing Pathway

It is important the policy is applied as outlined in the pathway.  That may vary from historic practice but it must be our standard approach.

4. Free NHS Staff Car Parking – Local Authority Car Parks

Local councils are offering free on-street and off-street car parking in local authority car parks to all NHS staff members, health or social care workers, and NHS Volunteer Responders during the COVID-19 emergency response.

Please carefully read the accompanying guidance on how and where to park when using the concession. The link to the guidance can be found here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-health-care-and-volunteer-workers-parking-pass-and-concessions/covid-19-health-care-and-volunteer-workers-parking-pass-and-concessions

Please contact the Car Park Admin Office on ext 6424 who will be able to issue you with a windscreen pass for the scheme.

5. Lockdown has been relaxed, but it’s not time to let your guard down

From today (Monday 1^st June) there are a number of things you are now able to do as lockdown restrictions are relaxed.

You can now spend time outdoors and meet in groups of up to six. You should stay alert and always practise social distancing with people from outside of your household keeping 2 metres apart. The more people you have interactions with, the more chance the virus has to spread. Therefore, try to limit the number of people you see.

Don’t become complacent:

• Keep your distance from people outside your household
• Keep your hands clean, wash and sanitise as often as possible
• Avoid being face-to-face with people if they are outside your household
• Reduce the number of people you spend time with in a work setting
• If you have to travel (for example, to work or school), think about how and when you travel

You can find out more about what you can and can’t do in the following guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do