COVID-19 Bulletin: Friday 18 June

June 18, 2021

Numbers not statistics: This week (last week)

Today also marks the one year anniversary of the SIREN study, which is making a big impact – not just now, but one that will be felt in the months and years ahead. Thank you to all those who volunteered for this study. You can find out more about one year of SIREN here.

1. New: Birmingham listed as enhanced response area

With COVID cases rising in Birmingham, the government has announced enhanced support for the city, focused on increasing vaccination take-up, testing and support for those self-isolating.

Over the next few weeks there will be surge vaccination in 15 wards with the lowest take-up and highest COVID-19 rates, along with greater walk-in capacity at vaccination sites.

The 15 wards – Alum Rock; Lozells; Bordesley & Highgate; Heartlands; Bordesley Green; Sparkhill; Birchfield; Small Heath; Ward End; Newtown; Sparkbrook & Balsall Heath East; Aston; Nechells; Holyhead; Balsall Heath West – will also be offered doorstep lateral flow testing, and PCR testing will be offered for schools and universities.

This follows the announcement that restrictions which were meant to be lifted on 21 June will now remain in place until 19 July due to the rise in cases of the Delta variant.

The government has also issued new advice on travel and socialising, including minimising travel into and out of the area and not taking unnecessary journeys. You are asked to:

• Take extra care and meet people outside, rather than inside, wherever possible.
• Follow all the rules around social distancing, face coverings, washing hands, wiping surfaces and keeping windows open.
• Get your vaccination when it is offered to you – see item 4 for more information on how to book.
• Test regularly – item 7 has all the information you need to register for the weekly saliva LAMP test.

Find out more.  

2. New: We need to talk about Delta

In just a few short weeks the Delta variant of COVID-19, first identified in India, has become the dominant strain in the UK. In turn it has become the primary concern among health authorities and the government as the UK looks forward to the summer.

We must remain vigilant. Now is not the time for us to take chances with our safety, as there is a danger the whole situation could become a ‘perfect storm’ for the country and beyond. Sandwell’s Director of Public Health, Dr Lisa McNally explains:

“In many ways, Delta is the perfect storm. It’s more contagious than previous strains and seems to be linked with an even higher risk of hospitalisation if we are infected. All the signs are that Delta is much more transmissible than previous strains. That means that indoor social gatherings, including with our extended family or friends in our home, are becoming increasingly risky.

 “Currently people infected by Delta are both more likely to end up in hospital – more than twice as likely than with previous variants. This means greatly increased pressure on the NHS, and ultimately could lead to death rates creeping up again. “For all these reasons it’s still vital that we all do all we can to avoid infection. Don’t become a statistic in what is now a rapid rise in cases.

 “We shouldn’t be pretending it’s OK. It’s up to all of us to make the decision for ourselves about what’s safe and to get out of the line of fire. We’ve all been through a terrible time. So let’s not go through it again! Just because the government says you can do something, doesn’t mean it’s safe.

 “You’re allowed to cross the road without looking both ways – but you’d be a fool to do it.”

3. New: Diabetes and COVID-19

This week has been Diabetes Awareness Week and there couldn’t be a more relevant time to talk about the increased risk of severe COVID in those with the condition. Therefore, a reminder that if you have not yet had your jab and do suffer from diabetes it is really important you have your COVID vaccine as soon as possible to keep yourself safe from serious consequences of COVID.

Regardless of what type of diabetes you have, although the likelihood of catching coronavirus is the same as anyone else and majority of people who do get coronavirus will have mild symptoms, those with diabetes, including type 1, type 2, gestational and other types, are at a relatively increased risk of developing a severe and potentially life threatening illness if they do get coronavirus.

Research further shows that there are certain risk factors that make people with diabetes to be at higher risk of severe COVID, such as being older, having a high HbA1c, or having a history of diabetes-related complications. There are other well-known factors too, like your BMI and ethnicity that can have an impact on your risk and that we have discussed in previous bulletins. There are some risk factors that you can’t change, but others are where you can reduce your risk such as by eating healthily, regular exercise, weight management and a good control of your blood sugar levels.

Being ill can also make your blood sugar go all over the place. Your body tries to fight the illness by releasing stored glucose (sugar) into your blood stream to give you energy – but your body can’t produce enough insulin to cope with this, making it harder to manage your diabetes. This means you’re more at risk of having serious blood sugar highs and lows, potentially leading to DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis) or HHS (hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state). Please consider this if you are yet to have a jab.

4. New: Welcome back, City vaccination hub!

As you know, the vaccination battle against COVID-19 continues. Progress has allowed younger age groups to now be eligible to get their first jabs.

As of Monday 21 June the City Hospital vaccination hub in Sheldon Block will be open once again (under the leadership of SWB) for those 18 or older who would like their first jab.

When it opens on Monday, the hub will operate from 1pm – 6pm and thereafter from 8am -6pm daily. Monday 21 and Tuesday 22 June will be walk-ins only, after which the hub will be open for both walk-ins and bookings via the national booking website.

The hub will be administering both Pfizer and AstraZeneca. Pfizer will be administered to the under 40s and AstraZeneca to the over 40s as per the current JCVI guidelines. Staff are able to walk-in to the City Hub which is in the Sheldon Block for your vaccination.

You can also still get vaccinated at:

• Tipton Sports Academy vaccination centre – open from Monday to Sunday, 8am – 7.30pm OR
• At the Saddlers Shopping Centre, Walsall

Remember: Birmingham is now an area of enhanced support because of increase in rates of the Delta variant. If you are not vaccinated, then you must consider it. SWB are planning additional pop-up locations in the community. Look out for further updates in future bulletins. 

5. New: £150k charity cash windfall to help with COVID recovery

Your Trust Charity has been given a cash boost of £150,723 to help colleagues and patients recover from the effects of the pandemic.

The money will be used to run five pilot projects that will enhance the mental health, wellbeing and physical recovery of colleagues and the community.

The funding has come from NHS Charities Together and will be used to create a new volunteer befriending scheme for patients living with and beyond cancer. Funding will also be used for an outdoor gym facility for colleagues, patients and the local community.

For colleagues in particular, there will be a number of pop-up wellbeing hubs across the sites and specialist support clinics for those with musculoskeletal conditions. An e-bike loan scheme will also be developed to encourage cycling to work.

6. New: Wellbeing and recovery – support available for time out

Many team leaders have expressed a wish to arrange, some time for teams to be 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 willing 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

The procurement team will help with the purchasing of supplies/items for away days and each proposal will be assessed for value for money and appropriateness.

In order for your time-out proposal to be considered for funding, and to access procurement support, please complete the form on Connect and send it to swbh.recovery@nhs.net.

If you would like some advice on speakers or content then please contact your HR Business Partner.

7. Updated: LAMP gives peace of mind in little time

The COVID-19 weekly saliva testing programme (LAMP – Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification) is now well established across our organisation. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to register and continue with the testing programme.

The weekly saliva test is an easy way to help us all ensure we are remaining safe but it’s not just a matter of keeping our colleagues and the Trust at large as COVID secure as we can, (although this is obviously of paramount importance) it also helps protect our family and our friends.

We all want to protect our loved ones – so why wouldn’t you want to know your COVID-19 status in order to keep them safe? Put in that context, a weekly LAMP test really is a no brainer…

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.

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
• To undertake weekly testing and drop off their samples

Samples can be dropped off at the phlebotomy department, Monday – Friday from 7.30am – 3.30pm and in the following locations:

• OPD first floor Corridor D Sandwell Site
• Ground floor BTC
• Ground floor Rowley Regis Hospital
• First floor Neptune Health Park
• Second floor Lyng Health and Social Care Centre
• Victoria Health Centre
• Oldbury Health Centre

Alternatively, samples can be dropped off in the LAMP collection bins at Sandwell outside the Bryan Knight Suite, outside pathology or A&E. At City, the LAMP collection bins can be found outside pharmacy main spine, outside pathology and A&E.

The latest data by group is below:

Remember: Birmingham is now an area of enhanced support because of increased of the Delta variant. Testing is an important way to keep you, your loved ones, your colleagues and patients safe.

8. Updated: Are you compliant with your FIT Testing?

We have recently made changes to how you arrange to get FIT tested. Previously colleagues have been asked to call ext. 5050 to arrange an appointment. It has now changed and colleagues can now access FIT testing in the following ways:

• Log onto ESR and search for ‘fit testing’ under ‘my learning’ and book an appointment to be fit tested
• FIT testing is a mandatory role specific requirement
• FIT Testing is held in the Old Security Bungalow, City Hospital

Note: If you book an appointment for FIT Testing via ESR you will only become compliant on your mandatory training if you attend the appointment.

For any urgent requests or more information please contact the infection, prevention and control team on ext. 5195.

9. Updated: COVID-19 Resource Pack for Managers – new updates

The COVID-19 Resource Park for Managers has just been updated. So what’s new?

• Section 1: Introduction – Minor change to wording
• Section 3: Update to the FAQs section regarding post-vaccine sickness
• Section 4: Some amends to the shielding guidance, plus the addition of the flowchart for supporting staff to return from shielding
• Section 5: Staff swabbing
• Section 9: Quarantine & Testing – updated with latest guidance
• Section 12: Car Sharing – updated to reflect that car sharing is now permitted in groups of up to 6/one other household.

If you are a manager, you must familiarise yourself with the COVID-19 Resource Park for Managers.

The resource pack is reviewed on a regular basis. See the latest version on Connect.

10. Reminder: COVID-19 antibody research study looking for colleagues to take part

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, supported by our R&D team. Principal Investigator, Dr Masood Aga and Lead Nurse, Irene Echaveznaguicnic are keen to invite colleagues to find out how to participate by clicking this link: www.birmingham.ac.uk/COPE-study. Recruitment is underway and will end on 31 July.

Participation will involve colleagues being given a home antibody test kit to test for previous COVID-19 infection, and the results will help to find out how best to maximise safety for all staff. There is even an opportunity to win an iPad or £200 prize draw. To take part you will need to complete a questionnaire at the start of the study (online or on paper) and a follow up questionnaire after four months. You will also have to do a finger-prick dried blood spot test which will be used to check for COVID-19 antibodies. The test will be mailed to your house.

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. The research aims to find out why workers in healthcare settings are at higher risk of catching COVID-19 and how best to maximise safety for all staff. 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.

11. Reminder: It’s hot out there but you still need to keep yourself safe

We’re expecting more high temperatures in the days ahead which are likely to trigger heatwave plans. In order to ensure we’re prepared and our patients are kept safe it is essential that all managers ensure that all actions for levels 1 and 2 are being carried out.

Please ensure you’ve read and understood the Trust’s Severe Weather Plan.

Any issues should be escalated to the site senior capacity managers or the CNPs after 7pm.

Factors which increase an individual’s risk during a heatwave include:

• Chronic and severe illness, including heart conditions, diabetes, respiratory or renal insufficiency, Parkinson’s disease or severe mental illness
• Medications that potentially affect renal function, the body’s ability to sweat, thermoregulation or electrolyte balance can make this group more vulnerable to the effects of heat
• Inability to adapt behaviour to keep cool: having Alzheimer’s, a disability, being bed bound, babies and the very young

Actions to be taken include the following:

• Minimise heat increase by drawing blinds or curtains
• Where possible switch off anything connected to the power system and likely to produce heat e.g. computers, printers, additional lighting
• Maintain hydration in patients by offering additional drinks

Ensure that discharge planning takes into account the temperature of the accommodation and level of daily care during the heatwave period.

Personal protective equipment and heat: risk of heat stress

Wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) in warm/hot environments increases the risk of heat stress. This occurs when the body is unable to cool itself enough to maintain a healthy temperature. Heat stress can cause heat exhaustion and lead to heat stroke if the person is unable to cool down.

Colleagues working in warm/hot conditions wearing PPE should follow the below advice:

• Take regular breaks, find somewhere cool if you can
• Make sure you are hydrated (checking your urine is an easy way of keeping an eye on your hydration levels – dark or strong-smelling urine is a sign that you should drink more fluids)
• Be aware of the signs and symptoms of heat stress and dehydration (thirst, dry mouth, dark or strong-smelling urine, urinating infrequently or in small amounts, inability to concentrate, muscle cramps, fainting). Don’t wait until you start to feel unwell before you take a break
• Use a buddy system with your team to look out for the signs of heat stress (e.g. confusion, looking pale or clammy, fast breathing) in each other
• Between shifts, try to stay cool as this will give your body a chance to recover

For more information please see personal protective equipment and heat – risk of heat stress guidance.