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COVID-19 Bulletin: Thursday 28 May

May 28, 2020

This is our seven days a week bulletin. Please use this bulletin and cascade arrangements within care and corporate groups to guide your actions. Throughout May and June we are determined to reduce avoidable harm and death in the people we are taking care of. Kindness remains the guiding principle of all the actions in our work to tackle the virus – kindness in how we look after patients, visitors, and one another.

Tomorrow we expect to issue redeployment release letters to most folk who have been moved as part of COVID-19.  Not everyone will be returning to their prior workplace at the same time, and different arrangements will apply to Brigades.  Liam Kennedy chairs the tactical group overseeing this work.  Any movement back is clearly contingent on future C-19 demand in June and July.  With that in mind, we are in the process of reorganising red and lilac wards on three sites to try and ensure clear differentiation where we can between blue and red streams.  If next week you have not received your news on redeployment release please get in touch with Liam.

Numbers not statistics: Today’s totals (Yesterday’s totals)

Number of our patients confirmed with COVID-19 during the pandemic Number of positive COVID-19 patients who have been discharged during the pandemic Number of patients who have died in our hospitals who tested positive for COVID-19 during the pandemic Number of patients entered by the Trust into a COVID-19 research trial to date Number of COVID-19 positive patients who are inpatients with us today Number of our staff absent due to ill-health or isolation today
1260
(1254)		 828
(819)		 354
(351)		 131
(130)		 78
(84)		 604
(624)

 

1. Antibody testing

Antibody testing for staff will be available from Monday 1st June. It is a blood test to assess whether you have antibodies for COVID-19. If you do have antibodies then it is likely that you have probably been exposed to the virus and your body has produced antibodies to fight it. This does not mean you are protected against catching COVID-19 again. If you do not have antibodies then it is likely that you either have not had the COVID-19 virus or your body has not developed antibodies to fight the virus. There is currently no evidence to show that having antibodies means someone cannot be re-infected with the virus, or pass it on to others, or have long-term protective immunity.

The test result will not currently influence where you work in the Trust. To book a test please call 0121 507 6104 and select option 2 when prompted Mon – Friday 8:00am – 16:30pm.  Results of your test will be e-mailed to you from Occupational Health within 72 hours of having the test. You can find out more in this questions and answers document. For more information please click here.

Whatever the result, you must continue to follow the infection prevention and PPE guidance in full. Observe strict hand hygiene at all times, keep social distancing two metres from people outside your household and wear PPE according to guidelines when seeing patients in clinical areas. You will also need to follow Occupational Health guidance on self-isolating and testing if you develop symptoms of possible COVID-19 in future.

2. Yellow Card – Reporting adverse reactions to COVID-19 treatments

The Medicines and Healthcare products regulatory Agency (MHRA) have launched a new portal for reporting problems with anything to do with treating COVID-19: trial drugs, ventilators, CPAP machines and other devices  such as syringes and pumps, PPE, diagnostic tests, and eventually vaccines. Anyone can report to this scheme.

Please report suspected side effects to medicines or medical device and diagnostic adverse incidents used in Coronavirus treatment to ensure safe and effective use: https://coronavirus-yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/

3. It is important that all of us take annual leave.      

Colleagues are reminded that there is no annual leave ban in place at the Trust, so everyone’s encouraged to take a break. Please have a think about your leave plans for July, August and September and try and confirm them with your line manager.

We want to put in place security of service supply so that patients who have been waiting for some time are able to be booked in for care. Numbers may not be huge but it is important any bookings we make are honoured. In July we will publish guidance on spreading leave over the period to March 2022. So we are encouraging everyone to make plans now for the summer. That helps your wellbeing and ensures we do right by our patients.

4. Patient swabbing

There remains a degree of concern and confusion over swabbing that has resulted in issues with testing so here is a reminder of some critical points on the subject we have previously covered here:

  • Patient PathwayEvery admitted patient must be swabbed.To ensure that we are able to safely admit patients and have a plan on their route through our hospitals and services we have devised the Patient Swabbing Pathway. Patient Swabbing Pathway to illustrate the points at which patients will be swabbed and how they will be supported through our services. It is important the policy is applied as appended.  That may vary from historic practice but it must be our standard approach.
  • Oropharyngeal swab kitsIf you require details on the process of utilising oropharyngeal swab kits for COVID-19 sampling please see the attached poster. Please ensure the process is followed carefully as failure to do so will result in samples being rejected and discarded.
  • Triple bagging swab samples for safetyRemember when you are bagging your swab sample, you must ensure the red topped bottle is first put in a clear specimen bag, this should then be placed in a clear zip lock bag and finally packaged in a blue specimen bag alongside any paperwork.

5. The Wellbeing Sanctuary

 As we’ve been reminding you throughout the week, your health and wellbeing is of paramount concern and the Trust offers a range of support for health and wellbeing should you need it. Another option that you may want to consider is the COVID-19 wellbeing sanctuary based at The Learning Works, Unett Street, Smethwick. The Sanctuary is accessible to all colleagues and offers a range of health and wellbeing activities. You can also pop in for a coffee and chat, or just to relax. Daily sanctuary sessions include:

  • Deep Relaxation and Breathing through Soundscape – Travel from the peaks of the Himalayas to the depths of the oceans of Bali relaxing in harmonious tranquillity.
  • Music Therapy – A time to find inner stillness through the tranquillity of relaxing sound vibrations.
  • Restorative Clinical Supervision (Health and Wellbeing Lead) –  A safe and confidential space to explore the impact of work pressures.
  • Unwind with Mindfulness – Breathe and Relax. Enjoy the power of connection and self-kindness.

Many colleagues are already taking advantage of the services on offer. A ward services officer who has been visiting the Wellbeing Sanctuary on a regular basis told us. “I have been off work with anxiety and the help I am getting here is really helping me to get my mind ready so I am able to return to work. The colleagues here are wonderful, I would definitely recommend it.”

Sessions last between 20 and 40 minutes. See the full timetable here. You can book a session by calling 0121 507 5886.

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.