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COVID-19 Bulletin: Thursday 11 March

March 11, 2021

In today’s COVID-19 bulletin

 New:

  • Exec shares personal reasons for having COVID-19 jab
  • Focus on fertility, pregnancy and the vaccination
  • COVID-19 community infection cause for concern
  • Option to sell outstanding annual leave back to the Trust
  • Fit testing hub is on the move
  • Drop off points for LAMP testing samples added

Numbers not statistics: This week (last week)

No. of our patients confirmed with COVID-19 No. of positive COVID-19 patients who have been discharged No. of COVID-19 positive patients who have died in our hospitals No. of COVID-19 positive current inpatients No. of COVID-19 research trial participants to date No. of staff logging lateral test results
Pre-Sept:

1,389

From 1 Sept:

4,756
(4,690)

 Pre-Sept:

1,217

From 1 Sept:

4,703
(4,575)

 Pre-Sept:

392

From 1 Sept:

783
(767)

 111
(143)		 1,106
(1,102)		 2,502
(2,476)

1. New: Exec shares personal reasons for having COVID-19 jab

Chief People Officer Frieza Mahmood has shared her first-hand experience of receiving the COVID-19 vaccination and her thoughts about why it’s so important.

In an open and honest video recording, filmed in her car, Frieza speaks about her nerves just moments ahead of having the jab at the Al-Abbas Islamic Centre, in Birmingham.

She says: “I’m a little bit nervous because I don’t like needles. But having thought about the information out there about the benefits of the vaccine, and my desire to want to protect my loved ones, friends, colleagues and the local community, I’ve decided that outweighs any natural fears I have.”

Speaking into the camera after her jab, she says: “I didn’t even feel it – it was so fast and everyone was very professional. They know what they’re doing. If anyone out there is nervous I hope they find this message reassuring.”

To watch the full video click below:

2. New: A focus on fertility, pregnancy and the vaccination

A webinar around fertility, pregnancy and the vaccination is now available to watch. The discussion features experts from across the country, including TV medic Dr Nighat Arif, a GP regularly featured on the BBC, Tendai Nzirawa, from NHS England/Improvement, and Rachel Heathcock, from the Wellbeing and Work for Refugee Integration.

You can watch the 90 minute webinar by clicking here.

3. New: COVID-19 community infection cause for concern

Whilst COVID-19 rates in the community have been falling across Sandwell, there still remain some areas of significantly high levels of infection.

The Tipton Green ward which covers Tipton town centre, areas of Dudley Port and the Dudley border currently has levels of infection that are twice as high as the rest of Sandwell combined.

Sharing her words of caution, Lisa McNally, Director of Public Health in Sandwell said: “We are urging people in Tipton, and indeed the rest of Sandwell, to keep being careful to avoid infection.

“Although rates continue to fall across Sandwell we still have some areas for concern where the number of people testing positive in the last week has increased.

“The new variant of the virus that is prevalent in our area is more likely to lead to hospitalisation and death than the previously most common version.”

As we all look forward to the easing of lockdown and a swift return to normality, it is important that we don’t forget that the risk of further outbreaks remains, and that we still need to ensure we wash our hands, limit unnecessary contact and practice social distancing.

4. New: Option to sell outstanding annual leave back to the Trust

Staff have been actively encouraged to plan and take their annual leave, during the leave year, as part of maintaining their health, safety and well-being, particularly during this difficult time.

Getting adequate rest and recuperation is vitally important for the physical and mental well-being of all our staff. There is an expectation, therefore, that staff will have been able to take at least their statutory minimum leave entitlement (28 days for full-time employees).

However, given the current situation, we are aware that some permanent staff may have some outstanding annual leave, i.e. above their statutory minimum entitlement, which they have been unable to take due to severe service and capacity pressures during the year 2020/21.

Therefore, in these situations, and as an exception to the Trust’s existing policy, staff have two options:

  • Staff will be allowed to carry over leave to the next leave year (1 April 2021 – 1 April 2022). The maximum leave that can be carried over will be the number of days above and beyond the employees statutory minimum, this being 5.6 working weeks per year inclusive of statutory holidays (equivalent to 28 days), plus any leave carried forward from 2019/20.
  • Staff will be able to sell back to the Trust their annual leave on the same basis, i.e. the number of days above and beyond the employee’s statutory minimum. For example if you receive 27 days leave plus 8 bank holidays, you could opt to sell up to 7 days leave, plus any leave carried forward from 2019/20.

As above statutory leave provisions still apply, so you will still need to take at least 28 days of annual leave during 2020/21. This is important for supporting the health and well-being of staff at this challenging time. Let’s work together to make sure that all of our staff take the rest that they need. This arrangement also applies to colleagues whose leave year is different to the Trust’s financial year. Full details are in the guidance.

For further information or to apply for this scheme please click here to see the guidance.

The scheme opens Monday, 15th March 2021 and closes on 22nd March 2021. Send your completed forms to swbh.albuyback@nhs.net if you would like to make this request.

5. New: Fit testing hub is on the move

The Fit Testing hub at Sandwell has found a new home in the Strategic Control room, in the Management Offices at Trust Headquarters.

From tomorrow (Friday) colleagues who have an appointment to be fitted with a face mask, will need to attend the new location, accessed via the courtyard gardens (see photo).

Entry is via the door with fob access only, so for those of you who are unable to enter, please call ext. 2344 using the internal phone in the yellow box. The fit testing team will be able to let you in.

Fit testing slots are still available for tomorrow. Please call 0121 507 5050 to get booked in at a site, date and time that suits you. Clinics are available everyday between 8am and 4pm. Phone lines are open until 8pm.

 6. New: Drop off points for LAMP testing samples added

The roll out continues for all colleagues to switch to LAMP (Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification) testing and as a result we are increasing the number of collection boxes across our sites and in the community.

Drop off points are now available at the following community venues:

  • Neptune Health Park, first floor, Sedgley Road West, Tipton.
  • The Lyng Centre for Health and Social Care, second floor clinical suite, Frank Fisher Way, West Bromwich.
  • Oldbury Health Centre, ground floor, Albert Street, Oldbury.
  • Victoria Health Centre, ground floor, Suffrage Street, Smethwick.
  • Rowley Regis Hospital, outpatients.

Collection boxes at our acute sites are situated in these areas:

  • Phlebotomy, first floor outpatients, Sandwell Hospital.
  • Corridor D and Phlebotomy ground floor, Birmingham Treatment Centre, City Hospital.

More drop off points at our acute sites are planned and will be available shortly. We’ll keep you updated via the COVID-19 Bulletin as to where these will be.

LAMP testing is a speedy and reliable COVID-19 test which requires you to collect a saliva sample in the morning before you brush your teeth or have your breakfast.  When you arrive at work, you can deposit your sample into a collection box – and you’ll receive your result within 24 hours.

If you haven’t already, you can now book a kit collection slot by calling 0121 507 2664 and selecting option 6.