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COVID-19 Bulletin: Monday 13 April

April 13, 2020

This is our once a day COVID-19 bulletin. This will take all national and professional guidance and information and tell you which changes we are implementing when and how. The plan to manage through April is our Operation Mary Seacole mobilisation. Remember KINDNESS is our watchword in implementing our plans.

Thank you to everyone who has worked as normal over the bank holiday weekend. We have ensured that services have been maintained for patients, relatives and colleagues. Well done.
1.  Midland Metropolitan University Hospital testing site to open tomorrow
As you know we have been leading the staff swabbing campaign at our Trust with our testing sites at Sandwell’s Little Lane car park and at City Hospital. From tomorrow a third site opens at the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital visitor car park. The site will be open to community staff, primary care, social care and other public sector workers across the Midlands. Appointment slots will be allocated to organisations and we expect to swab up to 300 people by Thursday this week. Our swabbing sites are still open at Sandwell and City.
If you have symptoms and need testing please call 0121 507 2664 and choose option 5. If you are self-isolating because of a family member they too can be tested by contacting the same number- this includes children. 
2.  Personal Protective Equipment and looking after your skin

Last weekend we updated the PPE guidelines with one change: In red areas you only need to wear FFP3 masks when in close and active contact with patients (within 1 metre) where the patient is a risk of deterioration, and when carrying out an aerosol generating procedure. In all other red circumstances we now recommend wearing a visor and surgical face mask as well as disposable gloves and apron. PPE requirements are displayed outside every ward. We will continue to provide any updates via this bulletin.

It’s also important that you look after your skin to minimise any pressure damage beneath the PPE, particularly on your face. Our tissue viability team have produced this useful guide to what to do to prevent or treat any facial skin damage.

3.  Recovering from COVID-19 – over 300 patients have been discharged home from our hospitals

We continue to treat patients in our acute hospitals and community beds who have tested positive for COVID-19 and are unwell. But a large number are also recovering and discharged back home. To date 302 patients have left our wards who no longer need acute care. Thank you to everyone who is looking after our patients and helping them to recover and get back home.

4.  Caring for children who are unwell

There is some evidence that families are delaying bringing children into hospital for treatment due to concerns about coronavirus, which can mean that they are not getting the care they need at the right time. Our paediatric team continue to safely treat and care for children through our emergency department and on our wards. The Royal College of Paediatricians and Child Health have produced this useful guide for when and where to access healthcare if you have an unwell child. Please use this guide for your own family or share with friends. You can also view this film about care of children during this pandemic:

https://youtu.be/8qJYBQx0if4

 
The Connect coronavirus page is continually being updated with the latest news and guidance regarding the virus, please take the time to read and familiarise yourself with the available guidance.