COVID-19 bulletin: Monday 23 March
March 23, 2020
The Trust is now publishing a daily bulletin. This will take all guidance and information and tell you which changes we are implementing when and how. Please use this bulletin and daily cascade arrangements within clinical groups to guide local action. Remember KINDNESS is our watchword in implementing these changes.
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Follow our guidance
It is important that colleagues are fully aware of the correct PPE to wear.
Please watch this short video which explains what masks to wear:
We have also produced a pictorial about what to wear when dealing with a patient who is positive and one who is suspected.
If in doubt there is information available on Connect or you can contact the IPC team on ext. 5900. We want to ensure that you are safe at all times.
PPE can be collected from D18 and Bryan Knight suite from 8am – 8pm and from the site teams overnight. There are stocks for the community in all bases as well as at Rowley Regis Hospital and the Lyng. You will only be given PPE consistent with our guidance.
If you are a line manager and many of your teams do not use email, please make sure this message is shown to them.
It is important to remember our usual infection control practices still apply, including that uniforms should be covered when moving to and from our sites, and the correct disposable of linen for laundering.
Use of face visors
Face visors that are used for aerosol-generating procedures (AGPs) should be re-used but must be cleaned with Clinell wipes and left to dry before being re-used.
Community Visits
All community visits are being screened to check for patients who may have symptoms. Patients who do have symptoms are only visited by the dedicated community van and colleagues who are staffing the visits via the van wear the appropriate PPE. If you have any queries or are unsure please contact your manager or the community services helpline.
2. Guidance for colleagues staying in hotel accommodation
Our reserved hotel rooms can be accessed by colleagues to enable you to be away from a household with someone who has symptoms. We strongly recommend that patient-facing colleagues take up this provision so that you can continue providing your vital service to our patients.
Staying in a hotel, may obviously increase the risk of passing the virus between colleagues working in different environments. National guidance is that where possible:
- Minimise time in communal areas of the hotel including receptions and corridors to reduce risk of infection to colleagues.
- Where possible, to limit to 1 or 2 people at a time in lifts where possible, or to use the stairs if appropriate.
- Ideally eat in your room. If meals are provided within the hotel, please try to sit at tables at least 2 metres apart from other residents in any bar or restaurant.
We will be working with the hotels and providing guidance so they are aware of this and are working to support you.
To access the hotel facilities please email swbh.hotel-booking@nhs.net
3. Can you use video link to see your patients?
We are holding drop-in sessions for Visionable, an online tool that enables you to see your patients via video link. To find out how to use Visionable you can drop in to attend a session where you will be:
- Given a license
- Shown how to use the system
- Demo real time patients
Pop in at any time from Tuesday 24 March through to Friday 27 March between 8.30am to 4pm at Patient Access Department, Hallam Building, Sandwell.
Contact Mark Whitehouse for any queries markwhitehouse@nhs.net
For more information about Visionable visit the website https://visionable.com/videos
4. What is expected of you when self-isolating
We would like to remind colleagues that if you are self-isolating then you should refrain from doing everyday tasks such as going shopping and coming into contact with other people.
The main purpose of self-isolating is to protect and prevent you from potentially spreading the virus to other people. If you do not follow these rules, you are putting patients, colleagues and your family and friends at risk.
When self-isolating you should plan for how you can adapt your daily routine, and that of others in your household. Some of the ways in which you could prepare include:
- Talk to your neighbours and family and exchange phone numbers of household contacts
- Consider and plan for those in your home who are considered vulnerable
- Create a contact list with phone numbers of neighbours and other key contacts
- Set up online shopping accounts if possible
Please read the national guidance on self-isolation
5. All retail outlets to become contactless for payments
All of our retail outlets including Hallam Restaurant and Arches Café will no longer process cash. All transactions will be by contactless payment only.
The following outlets will close by close of play tomorrow (24 March) because of the limitations of social distancing:
- Sandwell Main Reception
- City Coffee Culture
- City Maternity
The below outlets will remain open:
- Sandwell Hallam
- Sandwell OPD
- City Archers
- City Boaters
- City BTC
- Rowley Regis Coffee Shop
All open locations will have social isolation taped areas on the floor to ensure that we are all keeping the appropriate distance.
Opening times will depend on staffing levels and any changes will be communicated through the communications bulletin.