COVID-19 Bulletin: Friday 29 October

October 29, 2021

1. New: Act now to get protected

Dr Nick Sherwood, Intensive Care Consultant, and Emergency Planning Clinical Lead took a few minutes out of intensive care yesterday to record this important message for all colleagues. He wanted to urge everyone to get their COVID booster and flu vaccination shots as soon as possible. Watch his clip to see why.

It couldn’t be easier to get vaccinated as we are operating walk-in clinics for the COVID booster jab and flu vaccination at various sites across the Trust.

What you need to know

If you would prefer to have your flu and COVID vaccination separately, you can split your jabs by booking two separate appointments. You can also let us know when you attend a walk-in clinic.

COVID-19 boosters will be Pfizer and those eligible include those who have had their second dose (including Pfizer or Astra Zeneca) and have no contraindications to the Pfizer vaccination.

We are currently unable to offer the Astra Zeneca vaccination as a booster. We have a clinical pathway in the approval process which will mean that those not eligible for Pfizer will be able to receive the Astra Zeneca vaccine once our pathway is approved.

If you are unable to have Pfizer, the vaccine team will discuss alternative options with you. Please pop in to the hub or call the team on 0121 507 4404.

There must be at least six months (182 days) between your second dose of your COVID-19 jab and your booster.

Note: The Sandwell vaccination hub will close permanently after Sunday 31 October but pop up clinics will be held on 5, 10 and 24 November in the conference room in the Sandwell Education Centre.

The City vaccination hub will remain open seven days a week where colleagues will be able to receive their flu jab and COVID booster. A pop-up clinic will operate on Monday at Rowley Regis Hospital, where no appointment is needed. Colleagues will also be able to get their vaccinations at Tipton from now and throughout December.

Prefer to book an appointment?

You can book an appointment at the clinics below this weekend:

Any queries should be directed to louise.brown25@nhs.net or mary.parker8@nhs.net

2. New: Respiratory Hub celebrates updated ward status

Pictured outside D17 are Franky Davi, Staff Nurse, with Sisters Sandy Verdi and Abbie Millard, who are all delighted that the Respiratory Hub was able to go amber/red earlier this week after being red throughout the pandemic.

Please watch the video below to hear how they are feeling.

3. New: Have your elf a merry little Christmas

December is fast approaching, and once again, thoughts turn to how best to celebrate Christmas across our organisation.

We must acknowledge that Christmas will be different to previous years and be ready to adjust our plans as winter unfolds. That said, we are happy to share our plans to enjoy the festive season at SWB.

Infection control remains our top priority, and we have made some adjustments to last year’s guidance to help areas celebrate Christmas locally. Please note should we experience any outbreaks, all decorations will need to be removed and disposed of.

This is what areas can do this year providing the following guidance is adhered to:

• Christmas trees can be displayed
• All decorations and trees must be flame retardant
• All decorations, including lights, must be wipeable and cleaned before being displayed
• Decorations cannot be in any area where clinical procedures take place, e.g. bays/side rooms on wards
• Decorations should be limited to a single area on wards to ensure effective cleaning can take place
• Decorations attract dust – do not suspend them from walls and ceilings
• If a ward is closed due to an outbreak of an infection, e.g. Norovirus, you must dispose of all  decorations

For more details please see the Christmas information sheet. Any further queries should be directed to the IPC team on ext. 5195.

4. New: Product recall – Obisk brand face masks – type IIR

We have recently received a product recall concerning a brand of Obisk type IIR face masks affecting both ear loop and tie back. Only five batch/lot numbers are affected which are listed below and they can be found on the side of the box.

• 101000345
• 101000346
• 101000348
• 101000349
• 101000350

For further details please see Obisk blue tree face mask information sheet.

Please check any stock you may have of these face masks. If you find any of the five affected batch/lot numbers, please ensure you isolate them and call Lisa Southall on ext. 4938.

5. Updated: Trust Bank rates

Earlier this year we reviewed our pay rates for shifts undertaken via the Trust Bank. Our preference was and remains to try to fill shifts where staff are absent due to ill health or vacancies, via our own Trust Bank rather than via agency. This is because we have greater assurance over the quality of care from our own colleagues who are used to our systems and processes.

We recognise that colleagues are understandably keen to know what our plans are as we head into winter. Our current rates are under review, but remain as they are for now and we will provide an update in the next few weeks.

6. Updated: Patient visiting arrangements

Since the start of the pandemic, we have restricted visitors into our hospitals to protect our patients, the public and each other.

Our current arrangements at the Trust are under review and we are planning to reintroduce phased visiting arrangements. We will share a more detailed update in next week’s COVID bulletin.

As a reminder, in all areas visiting inpatients is permitted for one person at a time for patients who are at end of life and those with limited mental capacity, one parent/guardian of a child as well as other exceptional circumstances.

7. Reminder: Join the saliva testing programme to protect your patients and loved ones

Did you know saliva testing (known as LAMP – Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification) is a speedy and less invasive way of detecting COVID-19?

You can book a kit collection slot for the weekly test, which requires you to spit into a tube in the morning before you brush your teeth or an hour after you have eaten.

When you arrive at work, you can deposit your sample into a red collection box. Many of these are positioned around our acute and community sites.

You can find drop off points and more information by clicking here.

If you are still unsure how to complete your LAMP test, be sure to check out the step-by-step guide in the video below.

Even if you are vaccinated it is vital that you register and carry out the weekly tests as they will help identify if you’re asymptomatic. Your saliva sample is ONLY used to test for COVID and is disposed of after testing.

The weekly saliva test is an easy way to help us all ensure we are remaining safe and playing our part in the battle against COVID-19.

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:

8. Reminder: Wellbeing Hubs at Sandwell, City and Rowley

Focusing on ensuring that colleagues have a good day every day, the new hubs aim to help improve mental health, relieve stress, build resilience and restore balance.

Recognising that colleagues need to be able to access services easily, the new hubs are set to provide much needed health and wellbeing for colleagues closer to their work base.

Services in the new wellbeing hubs will include:

• Confidential chat – an opportunity for colleagues to offload and talk about anything which is troubling them
• Meditation
• Relaxation POD (massage chair)
• Back, hips, leg massager

The wellbeing hub is a completely confidential, all services and treatments are free of charge for Trust colleagues and delivered by trained wellbeing coaches.

The wellbeing hubs will be a regular service weekly across all the sites listed below between 8am – 4pm:

• Every Mondays at Jayne Wright Therapy Room, Trinity House, Sandwell
• Every Wednesday at Rowley Regis Hospital – therapy room Archer, first floor, Rowley Regis Hospital
• Every Friday in the therapy room, City Gym
• Monday – Friday at the Sanctuary, Unett Street, Smethwick B66 3SY.

Further details of schedule will be available shortly but if you would like to register your interest and book in to one of our first sessions contact the wellbeing team on 0121 507 5886 or 0121 507 3854. Alternatively, you can email Jatinder.sekhon@nhs.net.