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COVID-19 Bulletin: Thursday 26 November

November 26, 2020

Many colleagues will have noted that both Birmingham and Sandwell have been placed under Tier 3 restrictions, which will take effect once the second lockdown ends on Wednesday 2 December. This means the communities we serve will be living under the highest level of restrictions. Those restrictions are due to be reviewed on a regular basis. Thanks to Birmingham City Council for allowing us to share their easy to understand infographic, to show at a glance what you can and cannot do. You can view an enlarged version of the infographic in detail by clicking the image of it below:

If you have an idea to share about how to improve the bulletin, please let us know by emailing swbh.comms@nhs.net. All the latest information about our COVID response is published on Connect here. Please take the time to keep yourself updated and safe.

Numbers not statistics: This week (Last week)

No. of our patients confirmed with COVID-19 No. of positive COVID-19 patients who have been discharged No. of COVID-19 positive patients who have died in our hospitals No. of COVID-19 positive patients in inpatients No. of participants to date entered by the Trust into a COVID-19 research trial No. of people who have had antibody tests
inc. partner agency staff
No. of our staff absent due to ill-health or isolation
Pre-Sept:
1,400 From 1 Sept:
1,305 (1127)
Pre-Sept:
1,217From 1 Sept:
1093
(888)
Pre-Sept:
392 From 1
Sept:
175
(130)
224
(237)
SIREN – staff:
474
(433)Total:
809
(751)
12,705
(12,697)
COVID+/
symptomatic:
98(97) Total:
616
(648)

1. Updated message: Enhanced bank rates

We would like to draw your attention to the fact that we have published our enhanced bank rates over the past two weeks and wanted to share the update on AHP bank rates that have also been reviewed. We can confirm that the uplifted rate from April 2020 (an additional £2 per hour) will remain in place for all AHP bank shifts and, in line with the other bank rate enhancements, is in place up to 8 January 2021. The bank rates will be reviewed again prior to that date. Thank you to everyone who continues to support the Trust by joining our Trust Bank. There is now a fast track process in place for colleagues who are not currently registered with the bank for you to register should you wish to do so. To join the Trust Bank please call the Bank on 0121 507 3600 or e-mail swb-tr.trustbankrequest@nhs.net for a pack.

2. New message: Following ‘an apple a day’…Exercise is Medicine!

We’ve all felt the burden of restrictions adopted during the COVID19 pandemic which has increasingly impacted our patients, loved ones and our own physical and mental health. Although most people are aware of the benefit of maintaining regular physical activity and exercise in their routine as an effective strategy to minimise the long-term impact of the pandemic on our health, sometimes it is hard to get motivated. So we thought this great infographic, shared by our colleagues in physiotherapy, would help you choose where and how to start or even progress your activity. You can view an enlarged version of the infographic in detail by clicking the image of it below:

There are tips designed to help you shift out of a less active routine and into regular physical activity. We hope it will be useful either for your own motivation or to help encouraging others. If you find it of benefit, please share your stories with us at swbh.comms@nhs.net.

3. Updated message: Purple bags = rapid labs

Colleagues are reminded to use purple sample bags for urgent COVID tests, as they will be processed as a priority. It is the responsibility of wards to ensure that they have adequate stock of COVID-19 swabs and purple bags for the weekends and out of hours. If you need these bags out of hours they can be collected from D18 at City Hospital and the Bryan Knight Suite at Sandwell. The labs are open until 10pm Monday to Friday meaning if you submit samples up to 8pm they will be processed the same day, however they are only open to 5pm at the week-end and there is no overnight service so rapid swabs are not processed overnight but will be done the following working day.

If you have an urgent sample:

  • Place the correctly labelled specimen into a clear specimen bag and sealed fully
  • Repeat this process, using the second larger clear zip locked specimen bag
  • Add this doubled bag specimen to a purple urgent COVID-19 sample bag
  • The purple urgent bag can now also be posted into the COVID-19 drop off box

Further information on processing samples can be found on Connect by clicking here.