Skip to content Skip to main menu Skip to utility menu

COVID-19 Bulletin: Monday 25 January

January 25, 2021

New:

Updated:

Reminder:

  1. New: Guidance for colleagues faced with making difficult decisions

Many colleagues will find themselves making difficult decisions during these challenging times regarding the care received by patients who are nearing end of life.

As a result a process has been produced by the Trust’s Clinical Ethics Committee to give guidance to those faced with this situation.

This process should be implemented at all times and all decisions regarding patient care should be documented, including those colleagues who are involved in the decision-making.

It is also important that patients, or their next of kin are involved in this process.

You can view the full process here.

If you have any questions please contact the Clinical Ethics Committee by emailing swbh.clinical-ethics-group@nhs.net.

  1. New: Let’s talk about mental health

Managing our stress and psychological health at this time is as important as our physical health.

Taking care of basic needs and employing helpful coping strategies are top priorities. 

The Trust offers a range of support including one to one counselling, referral to mental health practitioners as well as helpful advice through the Wellbeing Together newsletter. But it is important that you decide what the right support is for you.  Remember, it’s ok to not be ok, and if you aren’t, there is support available to you.

Frontline19 is an independent UK nationwide service delivering psychological support to those who are, or have been on the frontline of COVID-19. The service can ensure you get the right help quickly and easily and is free and confidential. So, if you need someone to talk to, they can put you in touch with a therapist and you can take it from there.

Some common themes healthcare professionals request support for include:

  • Worrying and over-thinking a situation and its consequences
  • Poor concentration on other things and easily distracted
  • Feelings of anxiety
  • Feelings of panic
  • Irritability
  • Restlessness and fidgeting
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Poor daily functioning and difficulty carrying out routine tasks
  • Avoidance of usual tasks and routines
  • Feelings of helplessness and loss of control or incompetence
  • Fatigue and muscle ache.

To get started all you need to do is fill in a short online form. Pairing usually takes seven days or sooner if possible. Visit https://www.frontline19.com/ for more information.

  1. Updated: COVID-19 Vaccinations now open to all staff

The vaccination team is ploughing ahead with the programme to protect all colleagues across the Trust, regardless of their role or risk assessed criteria. That now includes bank staff.

The hub is situated at the Education Centre at Sandwell Hospital and invitations via email have been sent to all remaining colleagues who are yet to receive their first dose of the vaccine.

If you haven’t spotted the message, you can still contact the booking team on 0121 507 4112.

But please remember the following:

  • We are currently only offering the first dose and have 380 vaccines slots available until lunchtime on Thursday that need to be filled by you. If you haven’t already booked your appointment please do so now so that we can use these slots and no vaccines go to waste.
  • At your first vaccination appointment, a slot will be booked for your second dose to be administered 12 weeks later. Please note there is no flexibility on this.  This is following
    national guidelines and is mirrored in all other Trusts, GPs practices and vaccination centres.

The first dose offers good levels of protection and we can reduce transmission significantly in the community by giving more people the first dose and the second dose after 12 weeks.

  1. Reminder: Revised PPE Guidance: Important update

We have carried out a further risk assessment in relation to PPE usage in our clinical areas.

This has taken into account the following:

  • Current high volume of infection rates in the community
  • The corresponding high number of COVID-19 admissions
  • Some cases where patients on amber non-COVID wards have subsequently had a positive COVID PCR swab test after initial negative test
  • The ventilation in our ward areas.

The outcome of that risk assessment has led to a decision to increase the required level of PPE in these inpatient environments for some staff. This is above and beyond the current national guidelines.  This is under constant review and may well change if the regular review of the risk assessment indicates that the risk is lowered.

For all inpatient areas where there is direct patient contact (in red and amber wards), staff should wear:

  • A silicone mask/FFP3 mask and a visor, these can be sessional use. Single use gloves and aprons (please ensure you have been fit tested for an FFP3 mask before use).
  • You should wear a fluid-resistant surgical face mask if you do not have direct patient contact.  Non-direct patient contact includes walking on a ward area, pharmacists, clerical staff, estates and facilities staff. Disposable gloves/aprons should be worn for contact with patients/immediate environment. Porters who are transferring patients should wear FFP3/silicone face mask when transferring patients to red and amber wards.
  • If you are visiting the ward from another area, a minimum requirement when entering the unit will be to wear a fluid resistant surgical face mask

Please note: staff must follow their individual risk assessment for PPE, occasionally this will recommend a higher level of protection depending on your individual assessment.

For all outpatients and community staff inclusive of health visitors/school nurses/GP practices, for staff visiting care home facilities, patients and families homes, surgical face masks and visors should be worn as a minimum with a disposable apron and gloves for direct patient care.

If clinical intervention is required, a clinical risk assessment should be undertaken prior to the contact to establish whether there is a requirement for a higher level of PPE.

For example if a patient with a known respiratory condition has a persistent cough (not COVID related), an FFP3 and a visor should be worn in the event that the contact is essential and cannot be delayed.

Porters and facilities staff on wards can continue to wear a surgical face mask. However, if they are in direct patient contact they will then need to follow the guidelines outlined above for inpatient staff.

If you have any questions please speak to your line manager or infection control who will advise you.