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COVID-19 Bulletin: Tuesday 16 March

March 16, 2021

1. New: Sandwell vaccination hub re-opening on 23 March

Time flies, and we’re now at the point where the Sandwell vaccination hub is gearing up once again (for six weeks only) to see colleagues and administer jabs – in this case our second doses of the Pfizer vaccine, bringing not just additional protection but no doubt a great peace of mind to a great many of us.

Colleagues will already have an appointment for when to attend. You are encouraged to keep your original appointment or rearrange via the vaccination call centre (on 0121 507 4112), but you are advised not to go beyond 12 weeks after your first jab. It is essential that you attend as there will be no further appointments beyond 26 April for you to receive your Pfizer second dose. The Sandwell vaccination hub will also be open on Bank Holidays so please attend if you are booked on those days.

 It’s not too late to have your first jab

If you are yet to get the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccination, you can still book in to get your jab at either Walsall Hospital or at the newly opened at Tipton Sports Academy vaccination centre. Alternatively colleagues can also book their jab through the Your Health Partnership Primary Care Network at Whiteheath Medical Centre in Oldbury. Walk-in appointment slots are also available from the Primary Care Network vaccine hub at City Hospital, Sheldon Block until the end of March.

To book your jab online use one of the following links:

Find out more from Consultant Haematologist Dr Farooq Wandroo about the vaccination and why you should get it.

2. New: Free webinar: COVID vaccination and pregnancy

Elly Charity and the WHO collaborating Centre for Women’s Health at the University of Birmingham have announced a free one hour webinar on ‘COVID-19 Vaccination for Pregnant Women and the Health Professionals Caring for them’ this Saturday (20 March).

This webinar is the opportunity to learn and ask questions about the vaccination from international expert Prof Paul T. Heath and understand how it relates to women wanting to get pregnant, already pregnant or breastfeeding. They will share experiences of the vaccination amongst women’s health professionals in the UK with Dr Gloria Rowland MBE including low vaccine uptake in certain groups and the range of beliefs from health professionals.

 

Dr Rehan Khan will explore health inequalities in access to the vaccine and share what resources are currently available to help the obstetric community and women themselves. This is also an opportunity to ask questions from experts with first-hand experience. For more information click here.

 

3. Updated: 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.

 

We have also increased the number of collection boxes at our acute sites:

Sandwell Hospital:

  • Phlebotomy, Corridor D, first floor outpatients

City Hospital:

  • Phlebotomy ground floor, Birmingham Treatment Centre

Additional drop offs will be rolled out across both Sandwell and City over the rest of the month.

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.

4. Reminder: 22 March is last date to request sell back of annual leave

Speaking of the march of time, the time (of March) is already half way done and we’re rapidly approaching the end of this financial year. 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 which is 20 days plus 8 bank holidays).

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. The request form is included at the end of the guidance.

The scheme closes on 22 March 2021. Send your completed forms to swbh.albuyback@nhs.net if you would like to make this request.