COVID-19 Bulletin: Friday 29 January
January 29, 2021
New:
Reminder:
- New: Oxygen monitoring for colleagues starts Monday
You may have read how intensive self-monitoring with a pulse oximeter is advisable if you have COVID-19.
From Monday, our Community Services will be able to offer this to colleagues during weekdays.
If you wish to request an oximeter, you will need to have tested positive for the virus or be isolating with symptoms and be waiting for a test.
Colleagues can self-refer by emailing the following information:
- Name, DOB, NHS Number, telephone number, address for delivery of the equipment and preferred email for monitoring
- State you are a staff member and which service, team or department you work for.
Please email swbh.respiratoryservice@nhs.net to request monitoring equipment.
- New: Could you step to our rescue?
Everyone is working flat out at the moment to provide patient care to some of our most critically unwell patients across our organisation.
As we face pressures like we’ve not known before, we are asking colleagues who may be able to help, to step forward.
We currently are looking for admin support and runners to carry out much-needed tasks on our ward areas in medicine, critical care and surgery.
Having this support will mean our clinical staff will be able to focus their attention on clinical issues.
There are two roles available:
- An admin role – answering the phone, transferring calls, photocopying – generally helping us keep our admin shipshape
- A runner – collecting meds, helping porters and being an all-round superstar.
Both roles are available voluntarily or as band 3 via the Bank, span over seven days and can be flexible to fit around your commitments. Some colleagues whose workloads have changed or reduced, can also discuss redeployment into these roles with their line managers.
One colleague who has stepped forward to help volunteer on the wards is portering manager, Zaheer Iqbal. He said: “I have stepped in and helped out our wards areas voluntarily. We’re all in this together and, if I can help to lighten the load on clinical teams, then I am more than happy to do so.
“The ward admin and runner roles are an ideal way colleagues can help support at this time of unprecedented pressure. I enjoy being able to help out and, if anyone out there is thinking they could too, this would be a great way for them to get involved.”
If you would like to assist and are able to support these areas during your contracted substansive time, please speak to your line manager in the first instance.
If you wish to support as a volunteer, or bank staff, please call the Trust Bank on ext. 3600.
- Reminder: Roll up, roll up – book in for your COVID jab
Just in case you haven’t heard – slots for the COVID vaccination are available week commencing 8
February.
Colleagues can book in for their first dose of the COVID vaccination at the Education Centre, Sandwell Hospital between Monday to Thursday, 8am to 8pm. To book call 0121 507 4112.
The hub will stop offering first doses after 11 February in order to support the allocation of vaccine supplies across the system so that priority groups are able to be vaccinated as quickly as possible. The facility will reopen in March to administer second doses. Staff who need to be vaccinated after 11 February, will be able to access an alternative vaccine centre. We will be issuing more information about how you can do this once the details are confirmed.
We are administering the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine at the hospital hub, based in the Education Centre. If you have a proven anaphylactoid reaction to one of the ingredients of this, then you must contact your GP to request the Oxford/AstraZeneca as an alternative or you can discuss this further with Occupational Health.
- Reminder: Severe weather warning – how to book accommodation
We are currently expecting severe cold weather, icy conditions and heavy snow from 6pm today until 9am on Tuesday 2 February.
This weather could increase the health risks to vulnerable patients and disrupt the delivery of services. Please refer to the Trust’s Severe weather plan.
It is now more important than ever, that colleagues make every effort to attend work as planned as we will continue to run a 24 hour service during this time.
Arrangements can also be made for 4×4 transport in exceptional circumstances. All requests will be handled on a case-by-case basis and staff should discuss with their line managers. Booking over the weekend, between 8am to 8pm, should be done through Kim Cross, by calling 07890615116 or emailing kimberleycross@nhs.net. Outside of these hours you should contact the duty manager to discuss options for securing a taxi (4×4) to come to work.
You will also be able to access hotel accommodation during this period if you are unable to travel due to the severe weather. Please click here to see the process colleagues should follow when booking a hotel room.
All areas should have business continuity plans agreed with their staff for cold weather, ice and snow. These should include:
- Working with colleagues regarding their ability to report for work if transport systems are affected
- Agreeing working arrangements for severe weather in advance, including potentially the need for staff to stay overnight.
Colleagues are expected to make every reasonable effort to attend work (including using public transport when they wouldn’t normally) providing it is safe to do so.
- If not able to reach their normal base, to attend an alternative base if that is easier to reach.
- To work from home (if applicable and agreed with their manager)
- Colleagues unable to attend work or work from home, to notify their managers ASAP and required to either take the day as annual leave or time in lieu (to be agreed locally).
- Colleagues who are able to walk in but are not rostered to work may be asked to support their work area. This is not mandatory and will be based on mutual agreement and rescheduling of work duties.
Please ensure that all staff contact details are up to date and that you have a plan in place so that you are aware of any issues at departmental level.