COVID-19 Bulletin: Thursday 3 December

December 3, 2020

To keep up to date with the pace of change we will be sharing a bulletin on a daily basis. There’s a lot of change taking place at the moment so please make sure you catch up with the latest bulletins throughout the week, as even if some points seem familiar you may find the details have been updated a great deal.

We must ensure we look after ourselves and others within our community. Make sure you keep in touch with those you love and your neighbours. People may well be feeling anxious, lonely and scared at this time.

Thank you for looking out for one another.

Numbers not statistics: This week (Last week)

1. Updated: Self-testing COVID kits – using the test could save lives 

The initial roll out of self-testing home kits for colleagues has now been completed. Thank you to all of you who have submitted your results onto Connect so far. If you haven’t yet received a kit and work in a patient-facing area, please speak to your service lead and ask if they have included you in the submission that they have made for additional kits required.

It’s really important that each time you use the lateral flow test your result is recorded – whether it is positive or negative. Thousands of frontline colleagues have received the kits, however only a small number of results have been submitted so far.

The lateral flow tests are designed to help to identify any asymptomatic COVID positive cases and helps ensure we are playing our part in keeping patients, fellow NHS workers and our families safe. Recording these results could help to save lives.

This is why it is so important that, if you have taken a kit, you use it and record your results.

You can upload your test results here via Connect, when you are on the Trust network.

Important information for managers distributing kits:

Please return your completed collected kits proforma to sandwell.adminhub@nhs.net along with the number of additional kits required.

2. Reminder: Gloves – and we’re not talking about the fluffy warm ones!

Clinical colleagues – did you know that wearing gloves should be reserved for when you are treating patients?

And once you’ve cared for a patient, the gloves should be disposed of and you should follow the correct handwashing procedure before you put on another pair.

Importantly gloves should not be worn when using computers, whether that is in an office environment or when reaching out to a computer on wheels (COW). Cleaning your work station remains an important infection control and prevention step in this process.

And finally – please don’t use hand gel or sanitiser on gloves as it doesn’t work!

Click below to watch the video:

3. Reminder: Don’t deck the wards just yet…Christmas guidance IS coming!

Christmas will be different in all types of ways this year, and this will certainly also be the case at our Trust.

Infection prevention and control must be our priority for now and in the weeks and months ahead whilst COVID-19 remains with us.

For this reason we will be having very strict guidance on Christmas decorations in all areas (clinical and non-clinical).

The Trust will be providing laminated Christmas images and light projectors for most areas. It is really important that people don’t add to this with other decorations that aren’t able to be wiped clean. We will share more about Christmas arrangements in coming bulletins. Colleagues will be able to celebrate the festivities, but in a different way than in previous years.