COVID-19 Bulletin: Monday 23 November

November 23, 2020

Welcome to the first bulletin of the week to help you keep up to date with the way we are managing our patient services during this stage of the pandemic. Make sure you check out the new and updated messages and share them with your colleagues through your regular meetings and handovers.

Our second lockdown is due to come to an end at the beginning of December and is likely to be replaced with tougher tiered restrictions. We expect to know later in the week what this means for Sandwell and Birmingham. The tier classifications will be based on number of cases, rate of increase, age profile of people who are testing positive and impact on local NHS services.

New message: Role of Trust Tactical team

Since early February, and long before the first lockdown, as a Trust we had already prepared our response to the threat of a pandemic by activating our tactical team. It is our responsibility as a category 1 responder under the Civil Contingencies Act (2004) to be prepared and rehearsed for emergencies. The tactical team currently meet seven days a week at 9am to make the decisions needed to keep the Trust functioning and our patients and colleagues safe.

Every clinical group and support function has a nominated seat at the table, and it is the responsibility of those colleagues to ensure that the decisions made at the meeting are communicated swiftly throughout their area. Acting on those decisions is mandatory, for they have been made in the interest of the whole Trust. Every colleague across the organisation has a role to play in our response to the pandemic, and we appreciate your cooperation in this.

If you are asked to undertake an action that has been signed off by the tactical team, please ensure you prioritise the task.

2. New message: Guide to car sharing

We recognise that car sharing is convenient and for some colleagues essential, especially in some instances to enable you to do your job. So we’ve put together a guide to help limit the potential transmission of the virus whilst you and a colleague are travelling together. It is difficult to socially distance during car journeys. Where there is no suitable alternative to car sharing, you must reduce the risk of transmission by:

Wearing a fluid resistant surgical mask during the journey.
Sharing with the same people each time where possible.
Opening windows for ventilation.
Maximising distance between people in the vehicle by considering seating arrangements.
Keeping your bags on your lap if possible.
Avoiding long conversations whilst close together.
Washing or gelling your hands before and after the ride.
Avoiding eating inside the car while sharing
The full list is available on Connect here.

3. Updated message: PPE – Know how to keep you and others safe

Despite frequent reminders, some colleagues are still not getting the message that appropriate PPE MUST be worn at all times in clinical areas. Amber wards are not just a different colour than the previous blue wards. They have been warmed up to amber, because there is still a significant risk of transmission from patients who may be asymptomatic – COVID positive, but still well able to pass on the virus. Our experts in Infection Prevention and Control have assessed the risks and dangers and have come up with the definitive guide of what PPE must be worn in what environment and situation.

And, alongside social distancing and stringent hand hygiene, there is now a requirement to ensure you are wearing a face mask in all Trust buildings at all times whether in a clinical setting or office.

Patients are also asked to wear a mask when they are moving about in the ward or sitting in the bedside chair. Please continue to inform and encourage our admitted patients to wear masks when possible during their stay.

Wear your mask properly

Masks only work if they are worn properly, we have all seen people wear masks in some truly bizarre ways.

The instruction here is simple – your mask should cover your mouth and your nose.

Protecting your skin from damage beneath PPE

If you are finding that your masks are uncomfortable or are causing you issues with your skin, please take the time to read the helpful guidance produced by the tissue viability team for colleagues to protect and treat skin from damage beneath PPE.

4. Updated message: Scrubs amnesty at Sandwell Hospital

On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week from 10am to 3pm, we are giving colleagues an opportunity to return scrubs that they have stored or stockpiled at home. It is essential that colleagues ‘do the right thing’ and think of others by returning their scrubs. If everyone does this we will have enough to go round so that each time a colleague needs scrubs they can have a newly laundered pair.

Currently we do not have sufficient sets of scrubs to meet the increase in demand as many have disappeared, been worn or taken home, contrary to Trust policy.

On the 24, 25 and 26 November a drop off point will be available in the main reception at Sandwell Hospital where returned scrubs can be deposited and once laundered will be put back in to circulation. If we are unable to make up the numbers of our scrubs by inviting colleagues to return them voluntarily then harsher penalties will be introduced. You will be challenged if caught in person or on camera arriving in or leaving the hospital in scrubs. There is no special circumstance that allows ANY colleague to disregard this rule.

No Scrubs rules:

No scrubs should be stockpiled in lockers – they must be laundered regularly on site
No scrubs should be worn in undesignated areas (for example the Hallam restaurant)
No scrubs should be binned, they should be deposited in to the blue trollies situated on the links and in departmental areas
No scrubs should be worn outside the hospital or while travelling to and from hospital or taken home for laundering. By doing so you are putting yourself, your family and the public at risk.

5. Updated message: Self-testing for frontline colleagues

With 750 kits being distributed today to colleagues in Emergency Care, Anaesthetics, Pain Management and Critical Care, the new lateral flow testing for frontline staff is underway. A further 600 tests will be going out tomorrow and between 500/600 every day for the next two weeks.

Carrying out this test will help to identify any asymptomatic COVID positive cases and helps ensure we are playing our part in keeping patients, fellow NHS workers and our families safe.

Each person will be given a total of 25 tests which they should perform prior to their shift every three to four days. The information should be loaded onto Connect on this link. Colleagues wishing to download their results should ensure they are on the hospital network to enable their form to be saved correctly.

Please see below links to more information about the test, including frequently asked questions and video guide: