Covid-19 Bulletin: Thursday 12 March 2020

March 12, 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.

1.The next stage of our plan to safely manage increased patient numbers and acuity due to coronavirus are being implementing today and tomorrow

Our plans for handling increased admissions into our hospital are in place so that, as and when we need to isolate additional patients, we have space to do so. This will use all of our side rooms and the stages of the plan will be implemented as required. Additionally, ITU capacity will have to expand in coming days.

From Friday one ward on each acute site not routinely used for medical admissions will come into use, as we cancel planned surgery, and make arrangements to separate isolated from un-isolated patients.

2. Information on attendance at work

Our overriding aim is to help you to help our patients whilst making sure we take care of your wellbeing. We have prepared some Questions and Answers for questions about working arrangements. This attachment includes:

• Payment in the event of self-isolation
• Help if your caring arrangements break down
• Arrangements for annual leave
• Arrangements for working additional hours
• Working from home

You can read the full Q&A guidance here

This guidance will be updated as we move through the stages of our plans and shared in these bulletins.

3. Advanced warning- changes to visiting and outpatient appointments

Over the next few days we will be making some changes to how we work to protect our patients and our staff.

• From midday on Saturday March 14th we will not be allowing face to face visiting into any of our ward environments.  There are a very small number of exceptions which will be advertised where they apply.  We will be providing additional telephone and video phone technology to help people keep in touch with their relatives while they are in our care.
• From Monday March 16th a significant number of outpatient appointments will take place by telephone or through other technology, or may need to be rearranged.  This is to help us to move staff into areas where they are most needed, but mainly to reduce the risks from avoidable travel.

4. Everyone in the Trust has a role in managing infection risk

Please take a moment to watch this video on hand hygiene https://youtu.be/S9VjeIWLnEg

All colleagues have a responsibility to ensure they are compliant with and adhere to infection prevention and control policies, procedures and guidelines.

Please take a few minutes to read this handy reminder about important infection control practices which should be happening every day in our clinical areas:

Hand washing – this is an essential part of infection, prevention and control. All colleagues must wash their hands or use hand sanitiser on entering and exiting clinical areas. Clinical colleagues are reminded of the five moments of hand washing.

Bare below the elbow – please ensure that you are bare below the elbow whilst in clinical areas. This means your sleeves must be rolled up and any wrist jewellery should be removed, prior to entering the area.

Lanyards – should not be worn in clinical areas – If you are a member of staff who wears a lanyard, please remove it before entering a ward or clinical area.

Coats and bags – Outdoor coats should be removed prior to entering a clinical area and should be placed, along with bags in lockers. They should not be taken into the main ward area.

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.