COVID-19 Bulletin – Friday 11 June

June 11, 2021

Number not statistics: This week (last week)

New: It’s hot out there but you still need to keep yourself safe

We’re expecting high temperatures this weekend which are likely to trigger heatwave plans. In order to ensure we’re prepared and our patients are kept safe it is essential that all managers ensure that all actions for levels 1 and 2 are being carried out.

Please ensure you’ve read and understood the Trust’s Severe Weather Plan.

Any issues should be escalated to the site senior capacity managers or the CNPs after 7pm.

Factors which increase an individual’s risk during a heatwave include:

• Chronic and severe illness, including heart conditions, diabetes, respiratory or renal insufficiency, Parkinson’s disease or severe mental illness.
• Medications that potentially affect renal function, the body’s ability to sweat, thermoregulation or electrolyte balance can make this group more vulnerable to the effects of heat
• Inability to adapt behaviour to keep cool: having Alzheimer’s, a disability, being bed bound, babies and the very young

Actions to be taken include the following:

• Minimise heat increase by drawing blinds or curtains
• Where possible switch off anything connected to the power system and likely to produce heat e.g. computers, printers, additional lighting
• Maintain hydration in patients by offering additional drinks

Ensure that discharge planning takes into account the temperature of the accommodation and level of daily care during the heatwave period.

Personal protective equipment and heat: risk of heat stress

Wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) in warm/hot environments increases the risk of heat stress. This occurs when the body is unable to cool itself enough to maintain a healthy temperature. Heat stress can cause heat exhaustion and lead to heat stroke if the person is
unable to cool down.

Colleagues working in warm/hot conditions wearing PPE should follow the below advice:

• Take regular breaks, find somewhere cool if you can.
• Make sure you are hydrated (checking your urine is an easy way of keeping an eye on your hydration levels – dark or strong-smelling urine is a sign that you should drink more fluids).
• Be aware of the signs and symptoms of heat stress and dehydration (thirst, dry mouth, dark or strong-smelling urine, urinating infrequently or in small amounts, inability to concentrate, muscle cramps, fainting). Don’t wait until you start to feel unwell before you take a break.
• Use a buddy system with your team to look out for the signs of heat stress (e.g. confusion, looking pale or clammy, fast breathing) in each other.
• Between shifts, try to stay cool as this will give your body a chance to recover.

For more information please see personal protective equipment and heat – risk of heat stress guidance

New: Join the community swabbing reserves

Being able to test, track and tackle community outbreak of COVID-19 is critical in our fight to prevent the virus taking hold in our communities. Our community swabbing service has led the way in responding to local community outbreaks since the very first surge, playing a vital role in our ability to understand the spread of infections and to support the community to protect itself.

This vital work can only be done with support from our staff, calling on the colleagues who have been able to be redeployed or those who are willing to offer their time on the Trust bank. This role is not restricted to clinical staff as full training is provided.

To ensure this critical work can be carried on and to support our ability to respond to outbreaks at short notice we’re calling on colleagues to take the time to put their names forward to become Community Swabbing Reservists.

To join the reserves contact Jo Tonks on email: joanne.tonks@nhs.net.

New: Mental Health – Getting the right help at the right time

When someone is struggling with their mental health, it’s often referred to as a crisis, it’s a time when you will find patients at their most vulnerable, and when they are in desperate need for those they seek help from to do everything in their power to get them the right help.  And thanks to the latest addition to Unity, the right support is just a couple of clicks away.

With the launch of online mental health referrals, we can be assured that patients are being referred in a timely fashion, with accurate records stored in a central system and coordinated care between acute and mental health.

The mental health liaison service at Sandwell Hospital responds to referrals for those aged 18+ and City Hospital service responds to referrals for those aged 16+. Both services provide a full comprehensive biopsychosocial mental health assessment of patients referred, in addition to a robust risk assessment. Both teams are commissioned to provide a service for inpatients and those in A&E, referrals for day patients will not be accepted.

All referrals made from inpatient wards can expect a response within 24 hours of the referral being made. AMU can expect a response within 4 hours, and A&E 1 hour. When making a referral, ensure that the patient is well enough to engage in the assessment; patients do not need to be declared ‘Medically Fit For Discharge’ prior to referral.

All urgent referrals should be followed up with a phone call to the respective liaison team in order to alert them to the urgency of the referral.

For any further queries relating to mental health referrals, please contact Abbie Gogarty, team lead for Sandwell Mental Health liaison Team, and Patrick McGlynn , Team Leader for the City hospital based Liaison psychiatry team.

• Sandwell Liaison Psychiatry 0121 612 8607
• City Liaison Psychiatry 0121 507 6063

Updated: Get in the loop with weekly COVID-19 testing

The COVID-19 weekly saliva testing programme (LAMP – Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification) is now well established across our organisation. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to register and continue with the testing programme.

The weekly saliva test is an easy way to help us all ensure we are remaining safe, and, most importantly, keeping our colleagues and Trust as COVID secure as we can. Detecting positive cases sooner reduces the risk of the virus being passed on to patients, colleagues, family members and beyond in our communities.

Even if you are vaccinated it is vital that you register and carry out the weekly tests. This will identify asymptomatic cases and is of particular benefit in helping to pick up positive cases that would then be sequenced to identify any variants.

All line managers are asked to remind colleagues to:

• Call and book a kit collection slot by calling 0121 507 2664 and selecting option 6
• To undertake weekly testing and drop off their samples

Samples can be dropped off at the phlebotomy department, Monday – Friday  from 7.30am – 3.30pm and 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, samples can be dropped off 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.

The latest data by group is below.

Reminder: NO change to IPC rules within health and social care settings 

As the landscape outside work changes with the relaxing of rules enabling two households to meet indoors and face coverings no longer required in classrooms, some questions have been posed by colleagues wanting to know if the new rules apply at work. So we would like to clarify that there has been NO change to the rules within health and social care settings, meaning colleagues must stick to the hands, face, space, fresh air rules we are now used to. This is to ensure we keep our patients and colleagues safe.

Reminder: Changes to FIT Testing – Book in on ESR

We have recently made changes to how you arrange to get FIT tested. Previously colleagues have been asked to call ext.5050 to arrange an appointment however now you need to book in on ESR.

• Log onto ESR and book an appointment to be fit tested
• Search for ‘Fit Testing’ under the My Learning section and book in to a slot
• Fit testing is a mandatory role specific requirement
• Fit Testing is held in the Old Security Bungalow, City Hospital

For any urgent requests or more information please contact the infection, prevention and control team on ext. 5195.

Reminder: Looking after your wellbeing

We continue to review our roadmap to reopening our gym facilities so we can reopen as soon as we can safely do so. In the meantime you can take advantage of a 20 per cent discount per month at Sandwell Leisure Trust via their one card membership.

There remain a wide range of wellbeing options available to colleagues. These are just some of the ways you can support your personal wellbeing:

• Try something new such as mindful yoga with Chris
• Try out our relaxation pod. Call 0121 507 5886 to book.
• Book a chat or massage at the Sanctuary by calling 0121 507 5886. The ‘Daily Sanctuary Session’ flyer explains the different therapeutic sessions offered.
• Call our counselling service on 0800 06 96 222 between 7am – 11pm or book via occupational health on 0121 507 3306.
• Have a conversation with one of our REACT Practitioners by calling 0121 507 5886.

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