COVID-19 Bulletin: Friday 26 November

November 26, 2021

Numbers not statistics: This week (last week)

*Numbers may decrease due to starters and leavers. 

1. New: Updated national guidance on infection prevention control

NHS England have issued some revised guidance on infection prevention and control (IPC) which provides more flexibility for local arrangements. We are considering the new guidance and reviewing it against our own policies.

At present, we ask all colleagues to maintain our current arrangements for swabbing pathways, use of PPE and social distancing. We will update you via this bulletin and our other communications channels if our IPC guidance changes.

2. New: Take advantage of time out with your teams

Taking time out is important for mental and physical wellbeing and is something many teams have expressed an interest in.

Many teams have already taken advantage of the opportunity to have team time outs – stepping away from the work environment to reflect on their experiences.

For those of you who haven’t had a chance to, you have until the end of March 2022 to take advantage of this opportunity and book something in.

Time out can take a range of formats and, the Trust is happy to consider centrally funding reasonable costs associated with these time-outs.

These are some ideas you may wish to consider:

• Hire of an external venue
• Facilitator/external speaker costs
• Transport to external venue
• Refreshment costs (no alcohol)
• External team building activities
• Backfill costs.

Staff Side recently took advantage of a time-out session and enjoyed time together and a meal at the Turquoise restaurant in West Bromwich. Simon Morley, Trust Deputy Convenor, remarked: “We had our team time-out and colleagues from Unison, RCoP, CSP, RCN and Unite attended too. It was a great bonding experience as most of us had not met face to face since pre-COVID. It was great to see all those involved in our area of work and would encourage colleagues to take up this offer of an wellbeing away day.”

How was your time-out?

We want to hear your stories and see your photos so we can share and inspire other colleagues. Email your stories to swbh.comms@nhs.net.

Visit Connect for more information on team time-outs including criteria and how to apply. In order for your time-out proposal to be considered for funding, and to access procurement support, please complete the form (Word) and send it to  swbh.recovery@nhs.net.

Please ensure you have agreement from your group director before submitting requests.

3. New: COVID-19 infection rates fall in Rowley

People in Rowley Regis have been praised for their efforts in helping to reduce COVID-19 infection rates in the area.

The significant fall in infection rates follows a warning being issued, which was shared widely by people on social media and well-publicised by the local media. Public health chiefs have thanked both the public and local media for their help over the past week.

In the week ending 14 November, Rowley had the highest COVID-19 infection rate in Sandwell at 519 per 100,000 people (63 cases). Just one week later the infection rate had fallen to less than half of that level. Tividale ward, where a warning was also shared, has also seen a significant fall in cases over the same period.

Dr Lisa McNally, Sandwell’s Director of Public Health, said: “We would like to thank members of the public and everyone who has taken extra care to prevent the further spread of infection. We were concerned by the surge in the rate in Rowley in particular, and this significant fall in infection rates is very welcome.

“We remain vigilant as surges in infection can happen at any time, especially in the light of the AY.4.2 variant and it’s greater ability to spread quickly. We all need to keep up our guard as we go into winter. AY.4.2 is thought to be more transmissible but there is no evidence that it causes more severe illness and the vaccine is very effective against it.”

Sandwell residents are urged to stay safe and prevent the spread of the virus to help protect themselves and others:

• Let fresh air in if you meet indoors. Meeting outdoors is safer.
• Wear a face covering in crowded and enclosed spaces where you come into contact with people you do not normally meet.
• Get tested and self-isolate if required.
• If you haven’t already had your jabs, get vaccinated.

COVID vaccinations and booster appointments can be booked online via the National Booking System or by calling 119.

You can find a full list of vaccination sites in Sandwell via www.blackcountryandwestbirmccg.nhs.uk and at www.healthysandwell.co.uk/clinics.

4. Reminder: Vaccinations saves lives – there’s still time to get your jabs

Vaccines have saved over 120,000 lives and it is likely this winter will see a rise in flu cases as fewer people have built up natural immunity due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Stay protected and protect those around you by getting your flu jab and COVID-19 booster – getting your vaccines couldn’t be easier.

When and where to get your jabs

• Sandwell: Pop-up clinics for flu jabs are taking place on Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout November and December in the main reception area between 9am-5pm. There are also pop up clinics for both flu jabs and COVID boosters taking place in the Berridge Suite on 2 and 16 December between 9am-4pm.
• City:  Pop-up clinics for flu jabs are taking place at main entrance to City Hospital on Thursdays and Fridays throughout November and December between 9am-5pm. The City vaccination hub in Sheldon is open seven days a week for flu jabs and COVID boosters between 8am and 6pm for walk-ins.

Note: There must be at least six months (182 days) between your second dose of your COVID-19 jab and your booster.

Act now and keep yourself safe. Visit a vaccination hub or pop-up clinic to get your flu jab and COVID-19 booster.

If you have any questions, you can contact the vaccine hub on 0121 507 4404.

5. Reminder: Process for enabling visiting on some wards

Our new visiting restrictions allow inpatients in amber areas 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. Visitors must use hand sanitiser and wear a face mask on entry. They must also show evidence of a negative lateral flow test result taken that same day to be checked on entrance to the building. 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. 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 we are unable to allow visits by children (under 16 years) or those who are immunocompromised.

Our poster explains visiting arrangements and can be viewed here. Visitors must prove either photographic evidence of a negative lateral flow test (done the same day they wish to visit) or provide evidence from the government website where they uploaded their results. The Trust cannot provide lateral flow tests or accommodate visitors who wish to do a lateral flow test on site.

The established visiting arrangements for paediatrics, maternity, community wards and ICU remain in place with the addition of evidence of a negative lateral flow test result.

Visiting remains permissible in all areas for patients at end of life and to support patients who are distressed or need support with nutrition and hydration. Please talk to ward nurse in charge who can provide guidance about a visiting schedule.

Red and green areas, (D17, D25, L2, L3, Newton 5, AMU 1 and critical care) where visiting is currently not allowed should ensure you have robust systems in place to communicate with relatives / next of kin and to support communication between patients and their loved ones.

We will review visiting arrangements weekly based on a risk assessment taking into account COVID-19 case rates in the community, numbers of COVID-19 cases in our hospitals and any outbreaks.

6. Reminder: Stepping into Christmas safely

It’s just under a month until Christmas will be upon us. It will undoubtedly be different and we are asking colleagues to be mindful that we are still operating in an uncertain time where COVID is still rife in the community and we are still battling to protect our patients.

So we can all enjoy Christmas, there are a few basic rules we need to follow when decorating wards and departments:

• Christmas trees can be displayed
• All decorations and trees must be flame retardant
• All decorations, including lights, must be wipeable and cleaned before being displayed
• Decorations cannot be in any area where clinical procedures take place, e.g. bays/side rooms on wards
• Decorations should be limited to a single area on wards to ensure effective cleaning can take place
• Decorations attract dust – do not suspend them from walls and ceilings

If a ward is closed due to an outbreak of an infection, e.g. Norovirus, you must dispose of all decorations.

And whilst our rules don’t apply out in the community, we ask that colleagues use their common sense and their skills as clinicians to avoid risky environments. Continue to wear masks when you’re indoors and in crowded spaces and remember to wash and sanitise your hands regularly.

For more details, please see the Christmas information sheet. Any further queries should be directed to the IPC team on ext. 5195.

7. Reminder: See the light and join our LAMP testing programme to protect your patients and loved ones

Did you know saliva testing (known as LAMP – Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification) is a speedy and less invasive way of detecting COVID-19?

You can book a kit collection slot for the weekly test, which requires you to spit into a tube in the morning before you brush your teeth or an hour after you have eaten.

When you arrive at work, you can deposit your sample into a red collection box. Many of these are positioned around our acute and community sites.

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

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.

Uptake of the weekly saliva test is monitored to ensure we are doing everything we can to protect our patients, the public and each other.

The latest data by group is below: