COVID-19 Bulletin: Thursday 22 October 2020

October 22, 2020

Welcome to your Thursday edition of the COVID-19 bulletin. 2020 continues to fly by, but as time passes new developments continue and new challenges arise that we all need to meet head-on. Autumn is here and winter is not far away, along with all that brings. As always, kindness must remain our watchword in all that we do.

Below you will see new statistics which show data captured up to August 31 and figures from September 1 to the present day. This is so you are able to see how the situation is changing in relation to the first surge and as we enter the next phase of the pandemic. Our contribution to Research and Development remains vital in supporting the fight against this virus. The data below also shows the numbers of patients in clinical trials and the number of our Trust staff who have signed up to the SIREN study.

Numbers not statistics: Today’s totals – (last week’s)

1. Increasing numbers of positive cases: Ensure you follow IPC guidance

As you can see from the numbers we report each week we are admitting an increasing number of patients who test positive for COVID-19. This includes several patients who are asymptomatic who initially test negative and then test positive on their second swab. It is particularly important to be vigilant and follow the infection prevention and control guidance including wearing the right PPE at all times, regular handwashing and social distancing. In addition, it is vital that you remain bare below the elbows and remember, if you are unsure, it is okay to ask! This includes in all green and amber areas, as much as in lilac and red wards. Please keep yourselves, your colleagues and your patients safe by following this guidance and ensure that others do also.

2. Staff swabbing and results process

Swabbing for symptomatic colleagues remains available through our drive-through at City Hospital and Little Lane car park at Sandwell Hospital.

If you have been experiencing symptoms, you must not come into work. Please book an appointment for a test by calling the community contact centre on 0121 507 2664 option 5, Monday to Friday, between 8am and 6pm. On weekends call 07816 992873. Please do not just turn up.

Test results will be available after 48 to 72 hours. If you have a positive result the occupational health team will call you to discuss your result, offer support and will work closely with infection prevention and control and your manager in situations where there is a significant breach in PPE in order to contact trace and manage the situation locally.

If your test result is negative then you will receive a text message and/or email to inform you of your result.

You can read the staff swabbing and results process by clicking here.

3. Siren study is pushing forward with new recruits  

The SIREN study focuses on NHS workers working within the hospital setting.

SIREN (Sarscov2 Immunity & REinfection EvaluatioN) specifically looks into the impact of antibodies that fight the virus which causes COVID-19. The study is open to anyone working in a hospital building where there will be contact, and those participating may have had the virus, or tested negative.

Colleagues taking part in the study are regularly asked to complete a questionnaire and nose swabs. Blood samples are taken every two/four weeks for up to 12 months. Whilst SIREN focuses on healthcare workers only, there are also many other R&D projects being undertaken by the Trust that the public can join. By taking part in research projects we help to speed up the fight against Coronavirus. For information on the SIREN study and details on how to join click here.

For information on other COVID-19 studies currently ongoing within the Trust click here.      

4. SPA service reassures patients about COVID safety

The Single Point of Access (SPA) team has been working closely with West Midlands Ambulance and GPs to ensure that patients who need emergency care attend hospital.

The new arrangements mean the SPA team is contacted for support by either the patient’s GP or paramedics who are tending the person if they are declining to be taken to hospital because of a concern about COVID-19. A member of the SPA team will talk to the patient and aim to reassure them that it is safe to attend our emergency departments, which are streamed into non-COVID and COVID areas, and talk them through what additional safety measures are in place.

To read more about this initiative please click here.

5. What to expect when you visit our site for a face to face consultation

For patients who are being booked into a face to face consultation there is a new leaflet which will give them more information on what to do and expect at their visit to our sites.

You can access the leaflet by clicking here.

If you are booking appointments for patients that will take place in more than 10 working days’ time and are sending appointment letters out you can contact the Patient Access Department on swb-tr.SWBH-Team-Referrals-City@nhs.net or by calling 0121 507 5050 who will be able to provide you with the leaflets.

Note: These leaflets should only be used if patients are attending our sites and appointments are booked far enough in advance to be able to letter (10 working days).

6. Recording COVID related absence on ESR

It is important to correctly record staff absence related to COVID-19 on ESR. This ensures the correct pay and entitlements for employees. There are different ways of recording COVID-19 sickness and absence due to isolation. The ESR team have produced some guidance showing the process for recording each type of absence.

You can view the full guidance by clicking here.