COVID-19 Bulletin: Thursday 10 March

March 10, 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). 

1. New:  General visiting entry restrictions to be eased from tomorrow – Lateral flow testing only required in maternity

From tomorrow (Friday 11 March) we will further ease our general visiting restrictions to remove the need for visitors to inpatient areas to show evidence of a negative lateral flow.

The following points summarise our rules and are for those wards where visiting is allowed (amber wards only). Visiting red and green departments is only allowed on compassionate grounds (this is where a visit by a carer or family member is central to ensuring that the patient’s fundamental care needs are met). All wards regardless of COVID status should ensure robust systems remain in place to support regular communication between patients and their loved ones.

To visit a patient on an amber inpatient ward:

All visits must be booked in advance by telephoning the ward to allow wards to limit the number of visitors on a ward/bay at any one time. Ward staff should ensure that visitors are given the following information prior to visiting:

1. All visitors must be free of COVID-19 symptoms, and must not attend if they are a household contact of a COVID-19 positive case. We regret children (under 16 years) or those who are immunocompromised are currently not allowed to visit.
2. Patients in amber areas should be supported to receive one visitor for up to 30 minutes per day. Patients can nominate two individuals who can visit for the duration of their stay, ideally from the same household. There should be no more than 2 visitors per bay.
3. Visitors must use hand sanitiser and wear a fluid resistant surgical face mask on entry.
4. All ward areas must ensure adequate supply of PPE for all visitors and recheck they are wearing a mask on entry to the ward and have sanitised their hands.
5. Staff should continue to strongly advise patients to wear their masks and ensure a minimum of one metre distancing is in place at all times.
6. Bay/ward areas should be well ventilated.
7. Weather permitting – visiting can be conducted in the hospital grounds as long as the patient is medically stable and can be kept safe.

The current visiting arrangements for paediatrics, maternity and ICU remain in place. Our usual exemptions apply for inpatient children, those at end of life and people who lack mental capacity.

We continue to review visiting arrangements based on a risk assessment taking into account COVID-19 case rates in the community and numbers of COVID-19 cases in our hospitals.

For more information see the visiting information here.

2. New: Moving from LAMP to lateral flow from Monday

From Monday 14 March we will be moving our testing for COVID-19 away from LAMP testing and over to lateral flow testing. Colleagues must complete two tests a week at home before arriving at work.

We all know how important testing is and as restrictions have eased, we must remember that as healthcare staff, there is still a chance that we will come in to contact with those suffering with COVID-19 and vulnerable patients – so it’s critically important that we continue to test and report.

Lateral flow testing kits can be ordered online from the following website with colleagues either having them delivered directly to their home address or alternatively collecting from community locations.

Order your lateral flow kit online here: https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests.

All completed lateral flow tests must be reported on the Trust Lateral Flow Test reporting form which can be found on Connect, the myConnect app and linked below:

To submit results, colleagues will be required to login with their NHSmail email and password.

3. New: #WithAllOurHearts: A minute’s silence

NHS Charities Together are asking everyone to observe a nationwide minute’s silence at 11am this coming Friday, 11 March. Which is the second anniversary of when the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic.

This will be a part of a remembrance event, livestreamed via both YouTube and Facebook from 10:45am. The event held at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, will host NHS staff representing all nations of the UK and all areas of healthcare will be in attendance – including ambulance, hospital, mental health, community, social care and primary care services. Wanika Simpson, Acute Medicine Health Care Assistant will be in attendance representing SWB.

The event will feature personal readings and testimonies and NHS colleagues will be joined by patient representatives to lay blue heart wreaths as a symbol of gratitude and remembrance.
Colleagues at the Trust can congregate outside the main entrances to observe the minute’s silence if they wish to and are able to do so. However, please continue to observe our social distancing guidelines.

4.   Reminder: Flu is in the air, so don‘t forget your vaccine

The Trust continues to strongly encourage anyone who is eligible to receive both the COVID-19 and flu vaccinations. We are seeing a notable increase in inpatients with flu, and community cases of COVID-19 are rising too. Vaccinations remain key in helping to manage the impact of infectious illnesses, protecting the health and safety of our staff, patients and the wider community ensuring we can continue to provide safe health and care services.  

With restrictions eased people are mingling more, so the increases in COVID-19 and flu are expected.

Don’t get caught out – get vaccinated at one of our hubs. The vaccination hubs are still open daily at City and Tipton, offering both the flu and COVID-19 jabs. No appointment is necessary, just drop in.

Here are the latest opening hours:

Tipton Sports Academy Vaccination Centre (*walk-ins)
City, Sheldon Block (*walk-ins)
8am – 7pm (*6pm)
8am – 7pm (*6pm)
There is also a pop-up clinic taking place at Sandwell Hospital in the Berridge Suite (courtyard area) on Wednesday 16 March from 8am – 4pm. This clinic is for staff, members of the public and children aged between 12-15 years old. COVID-19 vaccinations, the COVID-19 booster vaccination and the flu jab will be available.

5.   Reminder: It’s safe to meet face to face – as long as you follow the rules

After almost two years of moving to online meetings and virtual conferences, we are now in a position to plan a return to face-to-face meetings, but there are some rules to keep you safe – particularly given the situation with flu mentioned above.

Colleagues can begin to book face-to-face meetings but the following precautions should be taken to do so safely:

·        Ensure that your office/meeting room is accommodating a safe distance of at least 1 metre between colleagues.

·        Colleagues should continue to wear fluid resistant surgical face masks when in a shared space, this includes when meeting with team members and close colleagues.

·        One metre social distancing space should be adhered to to ensure colleagues remain safe.

Colleagues should continue to risk assess their surroundings and ensure they take appropriate precautions to protect themselves and those around them.