COVID-19 Bulletin: Tuesday 8 February

February 8, 2022

1. New: Play your part by getting jabbed

England’s eight leading medical experts have come together to thank colleagues across the healthcare system for their continued hard work throughout the pandemic and stress the importance of being vaccinated against COVID-19.

In a letter addressed to all NHS staff, the eight, including Professor Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer, Ruth May, Chief Nursing Officer, Dr Nikki Kanani, Medical Director for Primary Care and David Webb, Chief Pharmaceutical Officer, reiterate how vaccines for the virus are safe and effective, with 10 billion doses given worldwide.

You can read the letter here.

Being vaccinated remains vitally important as it protects you and those around you by reducing the risk of infection.

Thank you to everyone who continues to step forward to have their jab, which remains the best way to protect yourselves, our patients and your loved ones. Vaccination appointments and walk-in sessions remain available through our Trust hubs and also in locations across the region.

Still need to get your vaccine? Visit one of our vaccination clinics:

2. New: Eligible children can now head to “Vaccination street”

Part of the vaccination hub at Tipton Sports Academy has been transformed into a mini “toy town” as it starts welcoming eligible 5-11 year-olds for their jab.

Nicknamed “Vaccination Street”, the area boasts colourful shop fronts and road markings and aims to put clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV)  young patients who attend the clinic at ease.

Six cubicles have been decorated by colleagues working within the centre, including the clinical and admin teams. They worked together, discussing their ideas to create the artwork.

Mel Roberts, Chief Nursing Officer, said: “The space looks incredible and will certainly help the children attending to relax whilst having their jab.

“Walking into a clinical environment like a large vaccination clinic can be a daunting experience especially if you are a child, so we hope this will really help.

“We’d like to thank colleagues for their amazing artwork and help in creating such a colourful and bright space.”

The parents of youngsters who are eligible are being contacted directly by the clinic’s staff to offer them an appointment, available between 3-6pm Monday to Friday and 8am-6pm on weekends.

3. New: Praise for Sandwell as infection rates fall

As infection rates start to fall across Sandwell, we want to thank each and every colleague for playing their part in following the Trust’s guidance around COVID-19.

Our strong Infection Prevention and Control policy is in place to help curb the spread of the virus, and it’s important that we all remember to continue to follow it so that we can protect our patients, ourselves and our loved ones.

We have seen a significant drop in cases across Sandwell, with it having one of the lowest rates in the West Midlands region.

Dr Lisa McNally, Sandwell Council’s director of public health, has praised the local community for their response.

She said: “Our contact tracing and outbreak response helped fight back against a very virulent strain of the virus. But none of that works without a great response from the local community.

“This isn’t the first time in the pandemic that Sandwell residents have responded positively to a surge in case rates. They listened to the advice and took the actions that they needed to take to keep themselves and their families safe.

“This battle isn’t over and the virus hasn’t gone away. But the people of Sandwell community should once again feel proud of how they rose to the challenge of the pandemic.”

4. Updated: COVID Vaccine FAQs on legislation

As you may know, a government review will take place around the Vaccination as a Condition of Deployment legislation.

The Government’s decision is subject to a parliamentary process and will require further consultation and a vote to be passed into legislation.

We have developed some FAQs regarding issues about the COVID-19 vaccine which you can read below:

Vaccine FAQs document.

At the present time we are continuing to confirm the vaccination status of all our staff. Please ensure that you confirm your status to the HR email advice line swbh.hr-advice-for-covid-19@nhs.net if we have written to you to say we have no record of you having first and second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Managers will also continue to have conversations with staff regarding their vaccination status.

We are expecting additional information on the review to come to the NHS in due course and we expect to take a consistent approach with other Trusts in the country, and particularly within the Black Country and West Birmingham Integrated Care System.

5. Reminder: Make the most of award-winning health and wellbeing services including how to request a staff room upgrade

When we think of good wellbeing, we think of feeling happy, healthy and well. But as people, our thoughts, feelings and circumstances change as we live our daily lives, and this may impact on how we feel, how we view ourselves, our goals and how we cope with challenges. It’s important to take time to think about personal wellbeing and to seek support if we aren’t feeling our best.

At the Trust we offer a variety of wellbeing services. Access the right support for you – here’s a reminder of what we offer:

Occupational health and wellbeing

You can access consultations with clinicians, free confidential counselling services, physiotherapy sessions or return to work assessments to get you back to work safely if you have been away through ill health.

Psychological support

As well as the free counselling service you can also access coaching conversations, mediation, stress and mental wellbeing risk assessments, help from trained mental health first aiders and REACT practitioners and the Thrive app. And, of course, you can find other mental health support through your own GP, or from any of the national services that are available. These are all linked on our intranet’s wellbeing pages.

Wellbeing services

The wellbeing team run a number of services to support colleagues including the Sanctuary (former Learning Works) and wellbeing hubs at City, Sandwell and Rowley. You can book treatments, access massage chairs, join a guided meditation or simply arrange to drop in for a coffee and a chat.

Annual leave

We encourage you to take your statutory entitlement of 28 days annual leave. You will be able to sell back additional leave you are not able to take, or carry some into next year, or both. We will share details of the scheme shortly. (Don’t forget there is an additional bank holiday in 2022…)

Supported team time-outs

Funding is available for teams to hold their own recovery times together. Most teams have already benefited from this. The final date to access Trust funds for team time-out is 31 March 2022.

Further plans to improve our wellbeing service

24/7 availability of food

Our catering services are open for staff and continue to provide a range of food options at subsidised rates. We have also arranged for some new smart fridges to be installed on a trial basis from Meals for the NHS. Good quality meals, drinks and snacks can be provided from the fridges 24/7. They are due to arrive soon on a trial basis so do let us know what you think of them. We are also looking to invest in vastly improved drinking water availability to ensure there is easy access for all.

Upgrades to staff rest areas

Does your staff area need a refresh? We are happy to receive requests for new furniture or equipment to improve rest areas and also requests for minor works such as painting and shelving. If your rest room needs a freshen up please complete the Staff Rest Room Refresh Request Form (Word) and email it to Dinah McLannahan, Chief Finance Officer Dinah.mclannahan@nhs.net.

We are continuing to explore how we can further invest in our wellbeing service and hope that you make the time for your own health and wellbeing needs. Access services via the Trust or elsewhere if you need some support.

Sonali Gupta tells us about her experience of using the massage chair at the new City Hub, Arches, first floor corridor A, Rooms 24-25.

“Having had the opportunity to sit on the chair and also get a in person massage was truly a very relaxing and calming experience. It helps one to reset and get back to work feeling refreshed.

“The virtual reality headset enhances your experience on the chair enabling you to switch off completely while making you feel like you have been transported to a different part world.”

6. Reminder: Keeping everyone safe through regular testing

Thank you to all colleagues who continue to do a weekly LAMP test. Regular testing is remains extremely important as it helps to keep everyone safe.

If you are not registered for LAMP you must do a lateral flow test twice a week. This is the national requirement and all staff must comply. With this in mind, please ensure you have adequate stock levels. Need to order lateral flow tests kits? Click here to order.

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.

Please be aware that as of 14 February, any colleagues registering for LAMP testing or those who are collecting new kits, will get labels rather than a request form.