COVID-19 Bulletin: Thursday 27 January

January 28, 2022

Numbers not statistics: This week (last week)

Note: Percentages may decrease due to changes in the number of inpatients and in the number of staff members (starters and leavers). 

New: As national restrictions are lifted colleagues are urged to continue to exercise caution

As you will know COVID Plan B national measures came to an end today, meaning that mandatory mask-wearing on public transport and in shops ceased and other restrictions have been relaxed.

But for colleagues at the Trust, very little will change within our sites regarding our infection prevention and control measures as the virus remains very much present across our community and in our hospitals.

We recently enhanced our PPE requirements having risk assessed COVID-19 infection rates and outbreaks within our hospital ward areas.

One of the most important updates to this is that in all inpatient areas where there is direct patient contact (in both red and amber wards):

• Clinical and non-clinical staff who are having patient/bed space contact should wear as a minimum a silicone mask/FFP3 mask – these can be sessional use (colleagues must ensure they have been fit tested for an FFP3 mask before use).
• They must also wear single use gloves and aprons and visors may be necessary in some clinical circumstances as per risk assessment for each individual patient.

Please see Tuesday’s bulletin which details the full requirements for both staff and patients regarding PPE.

It’s also important that you ensure you are regularly testing using either the LAMP method (weekly) and/or Lateral Flow Devices (twice weekly).

Visiting restrictions will also still remain in place across our hospital sites. We are reviewing this regularly based on risk assessments considering community case rate, outbreaks and numbers of positive patients in hospitals.

And finally, when it comes to life outside of the workplace, we would urge you to use your common sense and knowledge as healthcare workers. Although face masks are no longer required many people are choosing to continue using them and some shops are requesting that they are worn. Please exercise caution when in crowded environments and remember to wash and sanitise your hands regularly.

Colleagues living and working within Rowley, Cradley Heath and Old Hill, and Blackheath should be aware that infection rates are extremely high. Residents are advised to follow guidance to keep themselves and others safe – especially when caring for vulnerable patients or meeting loved ones.

It’s important that we all continue to play our part in the fight against this virus so that we can protect our patients, colleagues and our loved ones.

2. New: NHS App – accessing your vaccination records

Did you know you could access your COVID-19 test results and vaccination records on the NHS app, or your mobile phone from wherever you are?

The NHS App is free to download and register and is available on the App Store or Google Play.

Colleagues who are not recorded as being fully vaccinated for COVID-19 will need to ensure they have downloaded and registered on to the NHS App to be able to access their COVID-19 passport. This passport is required to evidence your current vaccination status.

If you do not have access to a smartphone or you are struggling to download the app, you can access your records online using the Online COVID Pass Service at: https://covid-status.service.nhsx.nhs.uk/

You can also use the NHS App to get health advice, book appointments, order repeat prescriptions, view your GP health record and more. Please encourage and help any friends or relatives to also download and use the app, a short video on how to do this can be viewed here

For more information go to www.nhs.uk/nhsapp

3. New: Home working guidance

The national directive to work from home if you can has now been relaxed. The Trust is at present maintaining our current guidance. If you are able to work from home you can continue to do so. Teams can arrange rotas for onsite working as many teams are already doing.

Risk assessments must be completed for colleagues who are intending to return to Trust sites to ensure safe working and minimise risk of transmission of infection.

Once you are on site, you must follow all Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) guidance including social distancing, wearing a face mask in shared areas and also washing and sanitising your hands.

We will update guidance as part of our reviews on IPC across the Trust, that includes risk assessments on COVID-19 community rates, outbreaks and inpatient case rates.

4. Updated: There’s still time to join the vacci-Nation

The deadline is 3 February for first doses for staff who are in scope of the mandatory vaccination legislation.

Join the vaccination team at City (Sheldon Block) or Sandwell (Berridge Suite) on Monday 31 January between 2-5pm at a drop-in session for colleagues who want do discuss any clinical concerns or issues regarding the COVID-19 vaccinations. Enjoy a hot or cold drink and biscuits while having a chat with one of our nurses. This is for all colleagues who are unvaccinated against COVID-19 and will be a relaxed, informal environment to ask questions regarding clinical concerns about the vaccinations.

Pfizer and Astra Zeneca vaccinations will be available during the drop-in.

Can’t make the drop-in session? You can still get your first, second or booster vaccination on site here:

Don’t forget there is also a clinic taking place at the City Vaccination Hub tomorrow (Friday 28 January), 9am – 2pm specifically administering Astra Zeneca COVID-19 vaccinations. All attendees will be assessed prior to vaccination to confirm eligibility. To book your appointment, call the vaccination hub on ext. 4404.

The deadline for those in scope of the mandatory vaccination legislation is to have the first COVID-19 vaccination by Thursday 3 February. If you need to confirm your vaccination status or have questions about the mandatory vaccination requirements, just email swbh.hr-advice-for-covid-19@nhs.net.

5. Reminder: Revised guidance for self-isolation of NHS staff

The Trust’s self-isolation guidance has changed. In summary, all staff who test positive will be able to leave self-isolation and return to work, if they test negative via a lateral flow device (LFD) on days 5 and 6 after the date of their initial positive test, providing they are medically fit. The negative LFD tests on days 5 and 6 must be taken 24 hours apart.

Following this, and to mitigate any potential increased risk of transmission, all staff must then continue to test daily up to and including day 10 after their initial positive test and stop at day 10 if they are medically well and not had any further positive LFD tests.

The Trust guidance can be found in full here. For the protocol click here.

6. Reminder: Staff testing requirements

As you know, it is mandatory for all staff to undertake regular testing. Colleagues attending site more than once a week are expected to sign up to our LAMP testing programme and bring in a LAMP sample once a week. This is our preferred regular testing programme for all staff with no symptoms because of the accuracy of the test. To register for LAMP please call 0121 507 2664 (Monday- Friday, 8am-6pm) and select option 6 to register and book a kit collection slot.

The latest data by group is below:

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

If you are unable to take part in the LAMP testing programme, then you must do twice weekly lateral flow device tests (LFDs). These are available to order online or to collect from a range of sites in the community. LFT results should be reported to the national website whatever the result.

Lateral flow testing is additionally to be used for people who are self-isolating as a result of testing positive for COVID-19, and for people who are a contact of a COVID-19 case.

We have access to a limited supply of LFT kits If colleagues are having difficulties accessing these and we would prioritise this supply to people who need LFTs as part of the process to end self-isolation or to continue working safely as a contact of a positive case.

LFT kits required in these circumstances are available from the IPC team or from the swabbing pod in the Little Lane car park, Sandwell Hospital.

If LFT kits are required as part of an outbreak, the ward or service manager should email sandwell.adminhub@nhs.net putting “LFT – outbreak requirement” in the subject field. Please include your ward or service and the number of staff who need to do daily LFTs. We will then respond to you to arrange collection.

7. Reminder: Get your jab – Allergic reactions are incredibly uncommon

Since the introduction of the Pfizer vaccination, there have been only two possible allergic reactions reported, but some of you with allergies may still be concerned about this.

Advice that individuals with a drug or food allergy should not have the Pfizer vaccine was withdrawn in January 2021 when it became clear that true allergic reactions to the vaccine, along with all other vaccines, are extremely rare.

Commonly, individuals can already have good antibodies from infection with the virus they are being immunised against, so the immune system quickly recognises the vaccine as a danger and may start to react a few hours after immunisation.  Symptoms usually involve a sore and/or itchy injection site, a mild fever, general aching and fatigue. Although unpleasant, these symptoms are not due to allergy and reflect a good response to the vaccine and settle within a day or so.

True allergic reactions are suspected when there are immediate symptoms of itching and swelling at the injections site, a rapidly occurring nettle rash (hives, urticaria) and possibly chest tightness and a drop in blood pressure. A drop in blood pressure alone suggests a faint.

Only individuals proven to be allergic to a chemical called polyethylene glycol (PEG) or who have a reaction like that described above, should have vaccination delayed whist advice is sought.

True allergic reactions very rarely occur to traces of egg protein or neomycin (an antibiotic not related to penicillin) in ‘flu vaccine.  Individuals  who have ended up in ITU due to a severe allergic reaction to egg should avoid the usual flu vaccine and have an egg-free version if available.

Advice on vaccines and patients for whom they may be contra-indicated is kept up-to-date on the “Green book” website. Click here to read more.

Any suspected side effect should be reported to the Yellow Card Scheme by going to https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/

If you are still unsure, join one of our vaccination Q&A sessions hosted by a panel of senior clinical leaders. This will also be a safe space for colleagues to have an opportunity to understand and ask questions about the potential impact of the new legislation, Vaccination as Condition of Deployment (VCOD) which has been enacted as of Thursday 6 January 2022. Session dates and times are below:

 8. Reminder: Mental health matters – Get advice and support at City Wellbeing Hub

The City Hospital wellbeing hub has now relocated to above Arches, 1st Floor, Corridor A (old physiotherapy corridor), Room B002/F/049.

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 will provide much needed Health and Wellbeing for colleagues closer to their work base. Services in the new wellbeing hubs 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 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:

• Mondays – Jayne Wright Therapy Room, Trinity House, Sandwell
• Wednesdays – Rowley Regis Hospital – Therapy room Archer, 1st floor, Rowley Regis Hospital
• Fridays – Wellbeing Hub, above Arches, 1st Floor, Corridor A (old physiotherapy corridor) Room B002/F/049 situated to the right of the corridor, City Hospital
• Monday – Friday – The Sanctuary, Unett Street, Smethwick B66 3SY

If you would like to register your interest and book in to one of the sessions contact the wellbeing team on 0121 507 5886 or 0121 507 3854. Alternatively, you can email Jatinder.sekhon@nhs.net