COVID-19 Bulletin: Friday 16 July

July 16, 2021

As you can see from this week’s numbers, the number of patients with COVID-19 in our hospitals and in ICU continues to increase. We have expanded our “red” bed capacity and continue to enact our surge plan. There has been a significant rise of COVID-19 cases in the community.

We must ensure that we continue to follow the infection prevention and control guidelines – wear the correct PPE, follow the guidance for streaming patients to the right areas, wash hands and social distance.

Get tested regularly (every week) using the saliva LAMP test – details below.

Vaccination is really important, you can walk in to the City vaccination hub if you and loved ones are not yet vaccinated.

Numbers not statistics: This week (last week)

1. New: Things may be changing – but you are urged to stay safe and cautious

Monday 19 July (known to many as ‘freedom day’) is approaching, when government restrictions are lifted once again as we take another step forward towards normality – it’s still important to remember COVID-19 is still around, and is still very real.

We are seeing increasing numbers of COVID-19 positive patients admitted to our hospitals, and a rise in cases in the local area. Whilst we all wish for a prompt return to normality, we must not lower our guard, we must stay cautious. COVID-19 is still in our hospitals and our community.

Our current arrangements for staff, patients and visitors at the Trust will continue in light of the community case rate and COVID-19 in our hospitals. We must ensure we are able to continue to protect our patients, public and each other. These arrangements will remain in place in line with national guidelines for the NHS.

That means NHS visitor guidance will stay in place across all health services including hospitals, GP practices, dental practices, optometrists and pharmacies to ensure patients and staff are protected.

Staff, patients and visitors will be expected to continue to follow social distancing rules when visiting any care setting as well as using face masks and other personal protection equipment. New posters to reflect this messaging will be in place from Monday.

We all need to continue to be careful so please make sure you do the following:

• You should continue to follow the COVID infection protection rules, even with colleagues you work alongside regularly in your wards and departments. There is no such thing as a ‘work bubble’. The virus can still spread between colleagues, so it is important to wear a mask and maintain social distancing when on breaks and outside of work.
• You can still spread the virus to others, even if you have been vaccinated.
• Make sure you regularly complete your weekly COVID-19 saliva test (LAMP).
• If you see something, say something – it is ok to gently remind colleagues, patients, and visitors to make space, fix or change their PPE, or observe other measures appropriate to your setting.

We’re all in this together – it has been a challenging year and taking care of each other is important. If you need help, ask for it. Read the full announcement from NHS England here.

Watch this video for more information:

2. New: Home working arrangements as government restrictions are lifted

You may be wondering whether home working arrangements will change for colleagues from Monday 19 July onwards as we see government restrictions lifted. For many colleagues across the Trust, working arrangements have been adapted throughout the pandemic to in many cases a mixture of on site and remote working.

We would like to provide reassurance to colleagues that we are not expecting a full return to all roles being on site full-time and the current remote working guidance will remain in place until the end of September. To read the latest guidance, click here.

The Trust is clear that working from home is working and working remotely is now far more widespread across the organisation.

Please remember, if you have staff that test positive or need to isolate, this needs to be recorded in a timely and accurate fashion on ESR or e-rostering systems.

3. New: Guide to COVID-19 app alerts

The NHS COVID-19 App has three separate functions which are not connected to one another which may generate alerts for users:

Book a test – If a user books a test through the COVID-19 App, then the app will alert them if they have a positive result and start an isolation ‘countdown’. Users can also enter a code if they have a positive test from another source with the same result. Isolation for those with a positive test is mandatory. You can be fined if you do not isolate.

Venue check-in function – Users are asked to check-in to venues such as pubs and restaurants on arrival by scanning a QR code on a poster. If there are two or three cases who checked in to the same venue on the same day, everyone who checked in to the venue on the same day is sent a “warn and inform” alert.

Proximity alerts – For those with the function turned on, the COVID-19 app anonymously logs every other phone it is close to for 15mins or more. Where someone tests positive for COVID-19 via a test booked via the app, or enters their positive test code into the app, then close contact isolation messages are sent to those phones which were logged as in proximity during the case’s infectious period. The instruction to isolate is advisory rather than a legal requirement, because the notifications are entirely anonymous and therefore unenforceable.

Please find out more in the guide produced by the North East Health Protection Team.

Remember to pause the app when you are at work.

On the chance that you are contacted through NHS track and trace stating that you are considered a contact of a case of COVID-19, it is important that you ONLY give your personal/community contacts if you have been complying with PPE and infection control guidelines whilst at work. You should then contact your line manager, who will complete a risk assessment with you to understand the occasions where you may have been in close contact with a patient or member of staff who has tested positive for COVID-19.

You must pause the app when:

• You are at work following infection prevention and control (IPC) guidance.
• You are wearing correct PPE at work and maintaining 2m social distancing in clinical and non-clinical areas.
• You are working behind a fixed Perspex (or equivalent) screen and are fully protected from other people.
• You store your phone in a locker or communal area.

The local agreement for colleagues who receive a ping from track and trace and have been fully compliant with PPE is as follows:

1. Risk assess the contact – if only been at work and no breach in PPE, can continue to come to work
2. Daily lateral flow test for the period of the isolation – 10 days. You can book lateral flow kits via the national website. Colleagues are encouraged to have a few testing kits available at home for future use if required.
3. 100% compliance with the PPE and try to take lunch/coffee break outdoors, maintaining 2m social distancing.

Managers must ensure absence through track and trace is recorded accurately in ESR – click here for guidance and for guidance on e-rostering – click here.

4. New: Mask up on the shuttle bus

With frequent changes to government guidance regarding social distancing and mask wearing, and in anticipation of Monday 19 July, you may be wondering whether face masks and social distancing are still required on the shuttle bus between Sandwell and City.

The Trust has confirmed, face masks and social distancing will still be required when using the shuttle bus between Sandwell and City. This is to keep yourself and others safe through what is still a time to act with caution.

5. New: Director of Public Health for Sandwell says…

Dr Lisa McNally, Director of Public Health has a message to us all on how we can take actions to reduce the risks of COVID-19, she said: “COVID-19 has not gone away: it is still a deadly virus and infection rates continue to rise rapidly in Sandwell.

“We can all help reduce risks and protect our community by following these eight actions. Please do all you can to keep yourself, your loved ones and others safe.”

1. Get your jabs as soon as you can – make sure you get both doses. The vaccine is your best defence against the virus.
2. You will need both vaccine doses to travel to many countries. Fully vaccinated people returning to England from amber list countries will not need to quarantine.
3. You must self-isolate and book a PCR test if you develop symptoms.
4. Use rapid (lateral flow) tests twice a week. You can pick these up free from a number of pharmacies.
5. Always book a confirmatory PCR test if you test positive using a rapid test.
6. Continue wearing a face covering in shops, on public transport and in communal areas of flats.
7. Keep washing your hands regularly.
8. Remember, outside is safest for meet-ups.

“COVID-19 will be a feature of our lives for the foreseeable future, so we all need to learn to live with it and manage the risk to ourselves and others. So please take care. The more people you meet and the closer you get to people you don’t live with, the higher the risk of catching and spreading COVID-19.”

6. Updated: Revised unplanned admissions pathway

We continue to see increasing levels of COVID-19 positive patients within our hospitals, therefore it is absolutely essential that colleagues ensure they are sticking to the pathway for testing and streaming patients to red or amber areas.

1. Any COVID-19 symptomatic patient who has a negative PCR must move to red. We must treat based on symptoms.
2. Any patient being admitted whilst waiting on a Point of Care Test (POCT) or rapid test result must go to a side room until the result is known in the first instance, or to the identified holding bays in medicine or surgery. Only if all of these areas are full should a patient be sent to the ward and in this case, please conduct a lateral flow test first so the risk can be minimised.
3. Asymptomatic positive patients must be admitted to a red ward.
4. Any patient being transferred to a community bed must have a negative swab test within the last 72 hrs prior to transfer.

Full details can be found here.

7. Reminder: Time out with your team

Taking time out is important for mental and physical wellbeing, particularly after a difficult 18 months throughout the pandemic. Many team leaders have expressed a wish to arrange, some time for teams to step away from the work environment and jointly reflect on experiences. This time-out can take a range of formats, but in order to help managers, the Trust is happy to consider centrally funding reasonable costs associated with these time-outs.

This could include:

• Hire of an external venue
• Facilitator/external speaker costs
• Transport to external venue
• Refreshment costs (no alcohol)
• External team building activities
• Backfill costs

Examples of what teams are doing for time-out include an organised sports day, a day out to Cliff Lakes Aqua Park in Tamworth and a facilitated outdoor activity day to name just a few.

So get your thinking caps on and have a think of things you and your team might enjoy while taking some well-deserved time out. Visit Connect for more information.

8. Reminder: Don’t miss your chance to get vaccinated

So far, over 80 per cent of colleagues have now received their COVID-19 vaccination, but we need to keep fighting the good fight and turn the tide in this pandemic.

We are asking everyone to play their part by continuing to take all necessary precautions to stay safe. Getting vaccinated plays a big part in combatting COVID-19. If you haven’t already done so, please get your vaccination.

Big Walk-in Weekend #2

This weekend will see the ‘Big Walk-in Weekend #2’ where those who are yet to receive their vaccination are encouraged to come forward for their first and second doses. All sites taking part are listed here.

Other ways to get your vaccination:

• The vaccination hub at Sheldon Block, City Hospital administers first and second doses to colleagues and patients. It is open seven days a week for walk-ins from 8am – 6pm. Bookings can also be made via the national booking website. For details and to book your first or second vaccination go to uk/covidvaccination.
• Second jabs for people aged 40+ who had their first dose eight weeks or longer ago are also available with no appointment at Tipton Sports Academy (8am-6pm) and the Saddlers Centre in Walsall (8am-7pm).
• Pop-up clinics are operating in the local area – for details check gov.uk/newsfor updates. Here are the upcoming session details:

Pop-up Clinic Timetable

9. Reminder: We are all susceptible to COVID-19 – get tested regularly

The COVID-19 weekly saliva testing programme commonly known as LAMP is now well established across our organisation. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to register and continue with the testing programme.

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.

If you are currently undertaking lateral flow tests for asymptomatic testing, please consider moving to LAMP testing. The tests are far more reliable, they simply require a saliva sample rather than swabbing.

Pop-up sessions at City and Sandwell have taken place over the past few weeks and following their success, they will continue next week from 7am at Sandwell main reception and City Hospital in the main spine by the pharmacy.

These sessions are for those who haven’t yet signed up to this new speedier and more accurate way of testing for COVID-19. You will be able to register and book a slot to collect your test kit from phlebotomy. A suitable collection time can be arranged when you register.

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, on weekends (Saturday – Sunday, 8am – 4pm) 07816992873 or 07970428995
• To undertake weekly testing and drop off their samples regularly each week

Uptake of the weekly saliva test is monitored to ensure we are doing everything we can to protect our patients, the public and each other.

The latest data by group is below:

10. Reminder: Be a part of COVID-19 antibody research study

A new research study – COPE-WM The contribution of occupational exposures to risk of COVID-19 and approaches to control among healthcare workers – is underway at the Trust. The research aims to identify why workers in healthcare settings are at higher risk of catching COVID-19 and how best to maximise safety for all staff. Researchers ne

ed your help – colleagues are invited to participate by clicking this link: www.birmingham.ac.uk/COPE-study. But be quick, recruitment will end on 31 July.

To be eligible to take part you need to have had a test (PCR or lateral flow) for COVID-19 or relevant symptoms in March/April last year when testing was not available.

Participation includes a home antibody test kit to tes

t for previous COVID-19 infection. You will also need to complete a questionnaire at the start of the study (online or on paper) and a follow up questionnaire after four months. A finger-prick dried blood spot test is also required which will be used to check for COVID-19 antibodies. The test will be mailed to your house.

There is even an opportunity to win an iPad or £200 prize draw.

To take part go to https://is.gd/copewmret, contact the COPE-WM team by emailing cope-wm@contacts.bham.ac.uk or call 0121 414 3151.