COVID-19 Bulletin: Thursday 31 March

March 31, 2022

Numbers not statistics: This week (last week) 

1.New: Living with COVID-19: Patient testing

Free COVID-19 testing for the general public ends tomorrow (Friday 1 April) as part of the government’s ‘Living with COVID’ plan.

Guidance has been released detailing how patient testing will operate from 1 April. We are now working through a plan to implement the new guidance therefore for the time being, please continue with our usual processes, with the below additional changes.

From 1 April, these changes will be implemented

Women admitted to a labour ward or setting should be tested as soon as is practical at the hospital site using PCR or rapid tests. Their birth partners will not be tested.

Visitors to hospital (including women and their birth partners attending for routine antenatal care, and end of life visitors) should not be tested.

Note: The Trust has a supply of lateral flow tests (LFT’s) that we are using for elective patients prior to having a planned procedure as well as for patients in paediatrics and maternity. Staff who don’t have LFT and are testing to confirm they are clear to return to work or are symptomatic and need to test to attend work can also access the LFT. They are not available for staff routine testing which should be applied for as stated in item 2 below. You can access Trust lateral flow tests by either:

• City – contact sukhpreet.doal@nhs.net or carl.steventon@nhs.net who will arrange for the tests to be available for collection from receipts and distribution, or advise when the tests are available to be collected by Transport for deliveries offsite.
• Sandwell – This will continue via the community contact centre, ground floor, Hallam building.

You can find out more about the government’s Living with COVID plan here.

2. New: PCR confirmation no longer required to confirm a positive lateral flow – how to apply for lateral flow tests

Colleagues are no longer required to confirm a COVID positive lateral flow result with a PCR, a move that comes as we learn to live alongside COVID-19. In our efforts to keep the virus at bay, it’s important that we continue to test and report in order to keep others safe.

All colleagues are required to complete a lateral flow test twice a week before coming in to work. Lateral flow tests are free to NHS staff. You can order your lateral flow kit by visiting https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests. You will be prompted to set up an account using your NHS email address. Once set up please select “Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust” from the list and continue to place your order.

Note: To submit results, colleagues will be required to create an account using their NHS email and password. If you test positive, you should continue to follow the current return to work guidance.

All completed lateral flow tests must be reported on the Trust Lateral Flow Test reporting form which can be found by clicking here.

Colleagues are reminded that any unused LAMP test bags and sample containers can be returned to the phlebotomy departments on each site.

3. New: Change to bank rates: Enhanced rates no longer in place for shifts booked from 6 April 2022

In July 2021 we temporarily introduced enhanced bank rates to support specialist departments and wards in being able to continue delivering safe patient care at a time when the pandemic had resulted in many services having to expand rapidly to meet the needs of seriously ill patients.

Enhanced bank rates were paid to colleagues working in the following areas:

• Emergency departments
• Critical care
• Theatres
• Neonates
• Maternity
• Respiratory hub
• AMUs
• Newton 1

In the first few months of 2022 we have seen a decrease in the numbers of patients with COVID-19 requiring hospital admission and are slowly returning to pre-pandemic activity and numbers.

From Wednesday 6 April the temporary enhanced bank rates will no longer be in place:

• Any colleagues that have already booked shifts in April to work in the above listed departments will still be paid at the enhanced rate.
• From Wednesday 6 April, any new shift bookings will revert to the new bank rate of £25.50. This rate covers any shift (including those in specialist areas) from band 5 and above.

We would like to thank all of our colleagues for their hard work and ongoing contribution to ensuring we can deliver safe patient care at what has been a very difficult time. If anyone has any individual queries with bookings, agreed rates etc. in relation to the enhanced rates please contact the Trust Bank team who will be able to help with any questions about bookings and rates.

The Trust bank team can be reached on 0121 507 3600 or swb-tr.trustbankrequest@nhs.net

4. New: Has your patient tested positive for COVID-19? Introducing the COVID Care Coordinator

Delivering effective care and treatment to patients is of great importance to the Trust, and for those patients who test positive for COVID-19, there is a designated COVID Care Coordinator in post to support their treatment. Jodie Brown has taken up post of COVID Care Coordinator whose role is to monitor COVID-19 positive patients across the Trust and supports clinicians to make decisions regarding their treatment pathway. Jodie along with the Medical Infusion Suite is also available to support with the administration of nMABs.

Jodie said: “The aim of my new role is to identify and assess inpatients with the onset of acute symptomatic hospital acquired COVID-19 and to streamline the process for the delivery, the care and treatment to those patients.

“I will also support the medical, nursing and pharmaceutical teams navigate the rapidly changing pathways and guidelines to make clinical decisions, which impact favourably on patient prognosis. I am looking forward to making a positive impact or imprint on this new phrase of living with COVID-19, especially for those most vulnerable in society.”

5. New: Changes to Medical Certificate of Cause of Death form and cremation forms

Following the expiration of the Coronavirus legislation on 25 March 2022, some changes have been retained on a permanent basis but all other processes will now need to revert back to previous practice (prior to Coronavirus Act 2020).

Please note the following changes to the way Medical Certificate of Cause of Death(MCCDs) and cremation forms are issued:

Only a medical practitioner who has attended the deceased for their last illness and can state the cause of death to the best of their knowledge and belief will be allowed to complete a MCCD.

The attending medical practitioner would need to have seen the deceased up to 28 days before death (prior to Coronavirus Act this was 14 days but now remains at 28 days) or viewed the body in person after death.

The requirement to complete a confirmatory medical certificate (form Cremation 5) was temporarily removed by the Coronavirus Act. It is the government’s intention that it will not be re-introduced.

An attending medical practitioner will be able to complete the form Cremation 4 if they saw the deceased (including visual/video consultation) within 28 days before death, or viewed the body in person after death (including for verification).

Further guidance and updated information about the easements can be accessed via the following links:

http://myconnect.swbh.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/MCCD-flowchart-2022.pdf?x18714

https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/publication/information-for-medical-practitioners-after-the-coronavirus-act-2020-expires/

6. Reminder: There’s still time to grab a jab

There’s no doubt the vaccination programme has contributed greatly to building a barrier against COVID-19 across the population. The country as a whole now has stronger protection against COVID-19 and we are now able to focus on how we move forward and manage the virus as part of the government’s living with COVID plan. Thank you to those who have already received your vaccinations. There is still time to get vaccinated, whether that’s your first, second or booster vaccination.

We are also now offering COVID-19 boosters for the over-75s and those with a weakened immune system at our vaccinations sites.

The vaccination hubs are open daily at City and Tipton and no appointment necessary – you can just drop in.

Here are current opening hours:

 7. Reminder: In place to keep us safe: Infection control measures

Infection control measures are in place to keep us safe. We are expecting some updates to national guidance around infection prevention and control in the NHS. This may include changes to our social distancing arrangements that we will review when the guidance is received. For the present time, please continue to follow our existing IPC guidance which includes:

Social distancing:
Please continue to abide by social distancing measures to keep a minimum of 1 metre between you and those around you at all times, including when you go for breaks and lunch.

Face coverings and masks:
Colleagues and patients are also required to ensure they wear masks in communal areas in our hospital buildings and in rest areas. Colleagues are reminded to ensure they follow the correct PPE guidance when in direct contact with patients (on red and amber wards). You must also follow your individual risk assessment for PPE. Occasionally this will recommend a higher level of protection depending on your individual assessment.

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.

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.

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. Handbags should not to be taken on ward rounds.

If you need further advice you can contact the infection control team on ext. 5900 or email swb-tr.SWBH-Team-InfectionControl@nhs.net.

8. Reminder: Working from home guidance

As we now move into a period of living with COVID we are reviewing the working from home policy which is now under consultation with trade union colleagues. We will share the new policy with you once it is approved.

In the meantime please continue to follow the current guidance which is available on Connect.