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COVID-19 Bulletin Friday 23 April

April 23, 2021

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
6,331
(6,307)		 6,281
(6,241)		 1,203
(1,201)		 30
(31)		 1,132
(1,132)
  1. New: Massages a step closer thanks to new screens

 Supporting the health and wellbeing of colleagues across the Trust remains vital and delivering this in COVID-safe ways is one of our priorities.

Therefore we have installed “screens on wheels” at The Sanctuary which will ensure that we are following guidelines, whilst also providing extra privacy if you are using the facilities.

These new screens mean that we will be reintroducing head, neck and shoulder massages at the venue very soon.  The screens create a divide between the massage bed and the chair, as well as a partition between the office space and the area where massages take place.  Keep an eye on the daily Communications Bulletin and COVID-19 bulletin for news of when the services will be available again.

Don’t forget, a visit to The Sanctuary could be beneficial as it’s a place of calm for all colleagues. Also, it gives you the chance to de-stress and relax in a confidential safe place.

The Sanctuary has a variety of offerings including:

  • Chill out downtime over a tea/coffee and a biscuit
  • A chat – a listening ear to hear anything you want to talk about in confidence
  • Meditation
  • Mindfulness
  • Relaxation hypnotherapy
  • Music therapy

Note: Social distancing measures are in place and PPE and sanitisation is provided on site.

Please contact the wellbeing team on 0121 507 5886 to book your free session.

The Sanctuary is only a five minute drive away from City Hospital and a 10 minute drive away from Sandwell Hospital. It’s based at the Learning Works on Unett Street, Smethwick, B66 3SY with free secured parking right outside.

For further details please see daily Sanctuary information sheet by clicking here.

 

  1. New: Revised infection control processes for patients

As the numbers of COVID positive patients are decreasing, the restoration and recovery of our services are a priority. However, it is also essential that we also maintain patient safety and uphold Infection Prevention and Control principles.

As a result we have issued updated guidance for the processes to be followed when patients are in our care.

It includes the following areas:

  • Emergency Department – streaming and testing for patients
  • Contact patients – the pathway for patients who have been in contact with a patient who has tested positive for COVID-19
  • Green stream – the pathway for admitting patients to Green areas
  • Community beds
  • ICU pathway

These processes must be followed so please ensure you are familiar with them and share them you’re your colleagues. You can access the processes here. In addition to this guidance, you should also follow the Trust’s usual swabbing pathways as these are specific for certain areas. You can find this document by clicking here.

 

  1. New: Pregnancy and COVID-19 vaccinations

If you are expecting and have concerns about having a COVID-19 vaccination, the most up-to-date Government guidance will give you reassurance.

It states there have been no specific safety concerns identified with any brand of coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines in relation to pregnancy.

Real-world data from the United States shows that around 90,000 pregnant women have been vaccinated, mainly with mRNA vaccines including Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, without any safety concerns being raised.

However, the JCVI has updated guidance to encourage pregnant women to receive Pfizer\BioNtech.

“Pregnant women in eligible cohorts who have yet to receive a COVID-19 vaccination, should be offered the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine or Moderna vaccine. All vaccination sites should implement screening procedures to ensure pregnant women are identified and offered the Pfizer BioNtech or Moderna vaccine.

“For sites that do not currently offer an alternative vaccine to the AstraZeneca vaccine, they should cancel first dose appointments if they know the patient is pregnant and direct patients to a PCN site or a vaccination centre that is administering the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine. Pregnant women already booked for a first dose at a community pharmacy-led site or a vaccination centre will not have their appointments automatically cancelled.”

We now have additional supplies of the Pfizer vaccine at the Sandwell Hospital Hub. If you are pregnant and have previously not taken up a COVID-19 vaccine, but would now like to have the Pfizer vaccine please contact the booking team on 0121 507 4112 for an appointment as soon as possible as this vaccination will only be available next week.

 

  1. New: Targeted testing areas extended – variant COVID-19 strain identified

You may be aware of the discovery of a variant of COVID-19 first identified in South Africa that has been identified in the Smethwick and Cape Hill area.

Targeted testing is being carried out for people without COVID-19 symptoms living and working in those areas. This is in addition to the Ladywood, Soho and Jewellery Quarter areas.

Council teams are calling at homes in the area to deliver testing kits. Completed home tests can be returned to several community venues as well as the council’s mobile units which will be touring the area.

Those without symptoms can also get tested quickly and easily at the special mobile testing unit behind Smethwick Council House, High Street, which is open 8am to 3.45pm every day. You can walk in or drive in to the testing unit; there is no need to book.

To check if you live or work in the specific postcodes for targeted testing, visit www.sandwell.gov.uk/extratesting or https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/covid-19-variant where there is more information.

  1. New: Walsall Manor Hospital vaccination hub moves to shopping centre

From tomorrow colleagues who were due to attend Walsall Manor Hospital for their second dose vaccination, will now have their appointments at the Saddlers Shopping Centre in Walsall town centre.

The vaccination hub is relocating to the venue from Saturday 24 April, so that the outpatients department can return to its normal function.

Parking is available at no cost for the first hour. The Saddlers Shopping Centre is also a 10 minute walk from the Manor Hospital. Please remember to take your staff ID and have your NHS number to hand.

If you have any concerns or questions please contact covacc.enquiries@walsallhealthcare.nhs.uk.

  1. New: Critical Care at City is back home


Following the completion of essential works, the critical care department at City Hospital has now returned back to their unit on the ground floor main spine. The team had temporarily moved to D16.

  1. Updated: Ensure you are doing your regular LAMP test – Book your slot to collect your testing kit now

It is now essential to make sure you are completing your weekly LAMP tests. This is to ensure that any asymptomatic cases are identified quickly. LAMP is a speedy and reliable COVID-19 test which requires you to collect a saliva sample once a week in the morning before you brush your teeth or have your breakfast or an hour after eating.

When you arrive at work, you can deposit your sample into a collection box – and you’ll receive your result via text message.

We’ve produced this video guide which shows how to carry out the test. Click the picture below to watch the film:

We must remind everyone that LAMP testing is open to both clinical and non-clinical colleagues. It is vital that we continue to test despite colleagues having had the COVID vaccination and infection rates starting to drop.

Please drop off your sample into phlebotomy department Monday – Friday from 7:30am – 3:30pm in the following locations:

  • OPD first floor Corridor D Sandwell Site
  • Ground floor BTC
  • Ground floor Rowley Regis Hospital
  • First floor Neptune Health Park
  • Second floor Lyng Health and Social Care Centre
  • Victoria Health Centre
  • Oldbury Health Centre

Alternatively you can drop off your samples in the LAMP collection bins at Sandwell outside the Bryan Knight Suite, outside pathology or A&E.

At City, the LAMP collection bins can be found outside pharmacy main spine, outside pathology and A&E.

Further information on LAMP testing can be found in the attached FAQs.

  1. Updated: New phone number for access to fit testing hub

If you’re heading to the Fit Testing hub in the Strategic Control room, Management Offices at Sandwell’s Trust Headquarters, please note the extension number to obtain entry has changed.

For those of you who are unable to enter with your fob, please call ext. 2262 using the internal phone in the yellow box. The fit testing team will be able to let you in.

If you need to be fit tested, 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.

 

  1. Reminder: Still a chance to get your first dose of the vaccination

Colleagues who are yet to be vaccinated or who have been recommended to be vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccination are being encouraged to come forward and book in to the last remaining vaccination slots at Sandwell Vaccination hub before the site closes when all the vaccination slots have been booked up – which we expect will be early next week.

If you are yet to be vaccinated with the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, please contact the vaccination booking line on 0121 507 4112 to book your vaccinations as soon as possible.

The Pfizer vaccine is now being offered to all colleagues. Those who are under 30 years old, clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV), pregnant or who have allergies preventing them from receiving the AstraZeneca vaccination are encouraged to also book an appointment for the Pfizer vaccination.

Remember, the COVID-19 vaccination still remains the best way to protect yourself and those around you.

Colleagues are reminded to please ensure you remember to attend the vaccination centre on your booked date for your second vaccination dose. If you are not able to make your booked vaccination date, you can rearrange your appointment by calling the vaccination call centre on 0121 507 4112, but you are advised not to go beyond 12 weeks after your first jab. The Sandwell Hospital hub will be closing at the end of April so please act now if you need to re-arrange your appointment.

 

  1. Reminder: Shielding guidance  

Shielding for those who are extremely clinically vulnerable from COVID-19 ended on 31 March. A letter was sent out from our Chief People Officer, Frieza Mahmood to all staff who were flagged as shielding to reassure them of the processes in place to support them back to work and asking them to complete a risk assessment to inform discussions with their manager.

We’d like to remind you, that there is no automatic expectation for staff who are shielding to return to full duties from when restrictions were lifted. Managers will continue to work with affected colleagues to support a safe and steady return as they may have concerns or be anxious around returning to the workplace.

A flow chart outlining the management process to support staff is available on Connect here.

For more information please see the updated national guidance from NHS Employers by clicking here.