COVID-19 Bulletin – Friday 21 May

May 21, 2021

Numbers not statistics: This week (last week)

1. New: COVID-19 Indian variant – infection control guidance

You will already be aware that Public Health England has stated that a variant of COVID-19 first detected in India has become “a global variant of concern”. In preliminary studies it has been found to spread more easily. In light of this we need to continue to be vigilant in our approach to managing COVID-19, particularly for those patients who come to our hospital sites via the emergency department needing admission. The updated guidance below must be followed:

• When triaging in ED – all patients must be screened for symptoms and asked about recent travel to India but also any current hot spot areas in the UK such as areas in the North West including Bolton.
• If patients are symptomatic of COVID-19 with a history as above, they should be isolated in ED in a single room.
• Patients who are not symptomatic but have travelled should follow our usual Point of Care Testing (POCT) and swabbing procedures.
• FFP3 masks should be worn if suspicious about the Indian variant.
• POCT to be undertaken immediately.
• A sample will need to be sent for sequencing if POCT is positive.
• If PCR test is positive contact tracing will be undertaken for face to face staff – this is for surveillance purposes only and staff can remain at work if they show no symptoms; and the saliva test (LAMP) / lateral flow test remains negative. See below for how to register for LAMP testing.
• Contact tracing patients as per agreed protocols will be undertaken.
• If the patient needs admitting please admit to a side room only.
• If there is more than one patient suspected of the Indian variant please cohort together.
• If any there are any patient contacts of the Indian variant please do not mix these contact patients with non-Indian variant COVID-19 contact patients.

2. New: Take your ease – but maintain vigilance

On 17 May, easing of COVID-19 restrictions took place as ‘Step 3’ of the government’s plan went into effect following considering of four key areas:

• The vaccine deployment programme continues successfully
• Evidence shows vaccines are sufficiently effective in reducing hospitalisations and deaths in those vaccinated
• Infection rates did not risk a surge in hospitalisations which would have put unsustainable pressure on the NHS
• Government assessment of the risks has not fundamentally changed by new “Variants of Concern”.

This step means that now the majority of the indoor and remaining outdoor shops/stores are able to reopen with gathering limits increased both for indoors and outdoors. This has opened the way for cinemas and museums to reopen and the green light given to larger outdoor events and larger attendances at sporting and entertainment events. Guidance for close contact between friends and family has also been updated to be based on your own judgement from here forward. Face coverings will no longer be needed in classrooms or for students in communal areas in secondary schools and colleges. Foreign travel is also now possible to ‘green list’ countries.

This does not however mean that the risk is over, and the restrictions aren’t over either – just eased. Twice weekly home testing will remain to control infection rates remains for students, for example. We know that, unfortunately, a portion of the public will see these changes to be a full lifting. So it is important we continue to set the standard when it comes to vigilance, not just for the sake of our families and the SWB family but for our local communities as well.

It is important we continue to observe the three key rules wherever possible: maintain social distancing, wear a mask, wash your hands. We can all see the finish line now, and it’s tantalising close, but if we don’t keep moving forward together we’ll not get there at all. Everyone doing regular LAMP saliva testing for COVID (see below) will also help.

You can find out more about Step 3 here on the gov.uk website.

3. Updated: Welcoming visitors back to our sites

In April we started a phased approach to open visiting for some patients.

• Stage 1 (12 April –17 May ) initial Pilot for 1 month PCCT Amber wards plus maternity and paediatrics – visiting now open in these areas.
• Stage 2 (17 May onwards) – Introduce visiting to all Amber adult inpatient wards and departments including critical care.

All clinical groups are now working through plans to open visiting to all Amber areas by 21 June – a few areas will be open each week. All visitors need to call ahead to relevant wards to book a 30 min appointment slot to visit. During this call visitors should be screened to ensure they do not have any COVID-19 symptoms. Visitors will be required to wear a face mask when on site.

It is proposed that visiting will not be introduced to Red wards other than what we currently offer for visiting. We are still having discussions with clinical teams regarding the opening up of visiting on Green wards. We need to consider  the clinical vulnerability of some patients undergoing elective surgery (cancer and colorectal being the two main concerns).

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. Please make a reasonable local judgement regarding the time you allow for each visit.

Please continue to encourage the use of mobile devices/tablets for families to keep in touch with their loved ones.

4. Reminder: Vaccines are still available – make sure you book your appointment

As you have no doubt read in the news, whilst lockdown has been eased (again, easing not ended)  there is increasing concern about COVID-19 variants in particular the Indian variant of which there had been 2,323 confirmed cases in the UK as of Monday. According to reports, vaccinations are shown to have an effect against this variant of the virus which is causing such devastation overseas.

If you are yet to get the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccination, please do so.

You can still book in to get your jab at either Tipton Sports Academy vaccination centre or at the Saddlers Shopping Centre, Walsall.  Please note: If you are under 40 you’ll need to go to Saddlers at this time to receive a Pfizer jab. We expect to have Pfizer vaccines back at Tipton from 1 June 2021.

The hub at Tipton Sports Academy, Wednesbury Road, is running Monday to Sunday, 8am to 7pm.

Book your slot via the national booking website.  You can also use this link to book an appointment locally to your home. For the Saddlers Shopping Centre follow this link to book: Walsall Saddlers Centre

We advise all colleagues to take the time to read the COVID-19 guide for healthcare workers.

Please ensure you take your Staff ID with you when you attend your appointment as it’s important you’re able to confirm you are eligible for the vaccination.

5. Reminder: Weekly COVID-19 saliva testing – keeping ourselves safe

We’d like to thank all of you who have registered for their weekly COVID saliva test (LAMP testing) which remains an important part in helping to keep the virus at bay in our organisation.

The only way to manage COVID-19 on a long term basis and to move away from the constraints of social distancing and wearing masks is to have a well-established and universally adopted testing programme where colleagues test themselves regularly and results are available quickly.  Saliva tests give us the opportunity to carry out a non-invasive, pain-free test, and to have very reliable results returned quickly.

You may have been given lateral flow testing kits via your childrens’ schools. It is our strong preference that our staff who are attending sites more than once a week do the saliva test (LAMP). This will cover you for any testing requirements that schools may require and is a less invasive way of testing with a weekly test rather than twice weekly.

As a Trust there is an expectation that all colleagues who attend sites more than once a week carry out a LAMP test on a weekly basis. The table below shows the numbers of staff registered, those testing and the numbers that have tested more than once for each Group.  To date 39 per cent of colleagues are registered to undertake LAMP testing.

The percentage of staff that have been using the test is 30 per cent. Of those, 84 per cent are continuing to take the test.

Whilst we have improved on our figure from last week, this still needs to be improved.  It is vital that we continue to test despite colleagues having had the COVID vaccination and infection rates starting to drop. LAMP testing is available to both clinical and non-clinical colleagues, and you can now book a kit collection slot by calling 0121 507 2664 and selecting option 6. Further information on LAMP testing can be found in the linked FAQs.