COVID-19 Bulletin: Thursday 13 January

January 13, 2022

1. New: Updated COVID guidance for discharge from hospital

The Trust follows Discharge to Assess (D2A) which is a national model aiming to simplify the language and processes for patient discharges. It would be hard to imagine anyone wanting to be in hospital for longer than necessary when they could continue their recovery in the comfort of their own home. Based around the principle ‘Why not home? Why not today?’ the main focus is ensuring we get patients back in to their home environments as soon as possible. Alongside this, we have the added need of discharge planning alongside COVID-19. The below graphic displays the updated COVID-19 guidance for discharge from hospital. Click the image for full details.

2. New: Your questions answered – Join a COVID-19 vaccination Q&A session

The Department of Health and Social Care recently announced that individuals undertaking CQC regulated activities in England must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 no later than 1 April 2022 to protect patients. This means that unvaccinated individuals will need to have had their first dose by 3 February 2022, in order to have received their second dose by the 1 April 2022 deadline.

Get your vaccination questions answered at a vaccination Q&A session hosted by a panel of senior clinical leaders. This will also be a safe space for colleagues to have an opportunity to understand and ask questions about the potential impact of the new legislation, Vaccination as Condition of Deployment (VCOD) which has been enacted as of Thursday 6 January 2022. Session dates and times are below:

For those colleagues who are particularly concerned about the vaccine or have specific questions, there is also a webinar facilitated by the Midlands Region Lead which will take place tomorrow (Friday 14 January 2022), 5pm – 6.30pm via MS Teams. This is an opportunity to understand and ask questions about the potential impact of the new legislation. To join the webinar, please use this link.

Time is running out to get your vaccination with a deadline of 3 February to get your first vaccination. You can bring your concerns and questions to these sessions.

3. New: Face masks for inpatients

Due to the continuing spread of the new Omicron variant, the Trust has made the wearing of surgical masks mandatory for all inpatients from today. This means that all inpatients must wear fluid resistant surgical masks whilst they are under our care. Masks do not need to be worn whilst patients are sleeping, eating or drinking.

Exceptions are for patients who are under clinical exemptions. Other exceptions include women in labour, patients without capacity, including those who are not able to put on or take off their own mask, and for children under the age of 12. Wards should supply masks to their patients, so ward staff should ensure they have enough stock.

   4. New: Walk in to get your COVID-19 jabs

If you’re aged 12 and over you can ‘walk in’ to get your first, second or booster COVID-19 jab from a pop-up clinic at the Trust, or in Sandwell – no appointment needed.

Our vaccination centres are open seven days a week, here are the latest opening hours:

You can also get your COVID-19 vaccinations at the following places:

• West Bromwich Dartmouth Cricket Club on Saturday, 15 January (10am-3pm)

The Club House, Sandwell Park, Birmingham Road, West Bromwich, B71 4JQ

• Cradley Heath Community Link on Saturday, 22 January (10am-3pm)

72 High Street, Cradley Heath, B64 5HA

• West Bromwich Leisure Centre on Monday, 24 January (3pm-7pm)

Moor Street, West Bromwich, B70 7AZ

For more information about the pop-up clinics, and for other places across Sandwell and the Black Country to get your jabs, visit www.healthysandwell.co.uk/clinics/

5. Important reminder: Revised PPE Guidance – Change to FFP3 in ward areas

Colleagues are reminded FFP3 masks are required in all ward areas when giving patient care. This applies to any colleague clinical or non-clinical who is having patient or bed space contact in a clinical area.

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.
• Increasing outbreaks in our ward areas.
• The ventilation in our ward areas (although new HEPA filters in Sandwell are helping with this).

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 both red and amber wards), clinical and non-clinical staff who are having patient/bed space contact should wear as a minimum:

• A silicone mask/FFP3 mask – these can be sessional use. Single use gloves and aprons (please ensure you have been fit tested for an FFP3 mask before use). Visors may be necessary in some clinical circumstances as per risk assessment for each individual patient.
• 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, 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 should be worn as a minimum with a disposable apron and gloves for direct patient care. Follow your individual risk assessment to see if you need a higher level of PPE.
• 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.
• Fluid resistant surgical face masks may be worn in rest areas and managers are urged to ensure colleagues have regular hydration breaks. If you have any questions, please speak to your line manager or infection control on ext. 5900 or email  swb-tr.SWBH-Team-InfectionControl@nhs.net.

You should be fit-tested for the current masks we have in stock but if you aren’t please make sure you do so as a priority. FFP3 masks can be obtained through usual arrangements by ordering from Stores. Fit testing continues at City Hospital, details of how to book are on Connect.

6. Reminder: Don’t forget to test regularly

As you know, it is mandatory for all staff to undertake regular testing. Colleagues attending site more than once a week are expected to sign up to our LAMP testing programme and bring in a LAMP sample once a week. This is our preferred regular testing programme for all staff with no symptoms because of the accuracy of the test. To register for LAMP please call 0121 507 2664 (Monday- Friday, 8am-6pm) and select option 6 to register and book a kit collection slot.

If you are not registered for LAMP you must do a lateral flow test twice a week. This is the national requirement and all staff must comply. These are available to order online or to collect from a range of services in the community. LFT results should be reported to the national website whatever the result.

Here is a reminder on how to carry out your LAMP test:

The latest data by group is below: