COVID-19 Bulletin: Thursday 5 May
May 5, 2022
Numbers not statistics: This week (last week)
| Colleagues who have received COVID-19 1st Vac. | Colleagues who have received COVID-19 2nd Vac. | Colleagues who have received COVID-19 booster Vac. | Current number of confirmed COVID-19 inpatients | COVID-19 inpatients not vaccinated against COVID-19 | Total number of our patients who have died from COVID-19 |
| 89.46% (89.46%) |
85.32% (85.32%) |
57.18% (57.12%) |
106 (133) |
30.19% (21.80%) |
1,552 (1,541) |
Note: Percentages may decrease due to changes in the number of inpatients and in the number of staff members (starters and leavers).
1. New: The Lowdown on the COVID-19 vaccine, periods and fertility: Your questions answered
The Lowdown, in partnership with NHS England and NHS Improvement, sat down with Reproductive Immunologist Dr Viki Male, and Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist Dr Fatima Husain, to discuss the latest research on the COVID-19 vaccine, fertility and periods.
This guide covers the latest evidence around the vaccine, including information on the main concerns of young women and people who menstruate and the effects of the vaccine on periods and fertility. The guide also discusses other external factors that can affect the menstrual cycle.
You can also watch the webinar for more insight from Dr Viki and Dr Fatima.
2. New: Change in supply of viral transport media (VTM)
There has been a change in the allocation of VTM to the Black Country and we have received the following update from Black Country Pathology Services.
For the last 18 months there has been a red-topped Remel MicroTest M4RT Transport tube used alongside a clear/white topped Viral Transport Medium (VTM) 3ml container for viral tests (including RSV and COVID-19). From this week a new container is being distributed, which is a green topped Sigma-Virocult Viral Transport Medium (VTM) 3ml container.
The testing procedure is the same and when you ask for the Red-topped Remel you will receive the new container. We have validated the new container to ensure that the results are the same as the current in-use VTM containers. Please continue to order in the same way.
3. Updated: Resource pack for managers
As you know, our COVID-19 guidance is regularly reviewed based upon the latest national guidance from the NHS and the UK Government, community cases, inpatients with COVID-19 and any outbreaks.
As we continue to live with COVID-19, the resource pack for managers has been updated and can be found on Connect.
Recent updates include Section 8 – Recruitment administration.
Click here for more.
4. Reminder: It’s World Hand Hygiene Day – remember our IPC measures
With it being World Hand Hygiene Day, it seems like an appropriate time to remind everyone about the importance of maintaining our infection control protocols.
We continue to see COVID infection within our communities, which inevitably risks outbreaks within our wards. This leads to increased pressure on our bed base, which is why we took the decision to maintain our current infection prevention and control measures to keep colleagues and patients safe.
We will continue to monitor the situation and make changes when we believe it is safe to do so, and in the meantime colleagues are advised to continue to follow our swabbing pathways for planned and unplanned admissions and current infection prevention control guidance which includes:
Social distancing: Please continue to abide by social distancing measures and always keep a minimum of 1 metre between you and those around you, 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. Please follow the WHO five moments of hand hygiene when in 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 (including Fitbits or similar devices) should be removed, prior to entering the area.
It’s important to dispose of PPE correctly
Our IPC measures extend not just to hand washing, social distancing and mask wearing but also the correct disposal of PPE. We have seen an increase in the amount of masks and PPE litter found discarded on the floor. You are urged to ensure you are disposing of any PPE in the correct bins to help minimise this problem.
If you need further advice, you can contact the infection control team on ext. 5900 or by emailing swb-tr.SWBH-Team-InfectionControl@nhs.net
5. Reminder: Lateral flow testing twice a week is a Trust policy
Thank you to everyone who has been testing regularly. As we have learnt over the last few years of dealing with COVID-19, asymptomatic testing in healthcare settings is critical to be able to manage infections. We must have a robust programme of testing and reporting to ensure we understand the spread of the virus. Lateral flow device testing lets us do this.
All colleagues are required to complete a lateral flow device test twice a week before coming in to work.
All completed LFD results must be reported on the Trust Lateral Flow reporting form which can be found by clicking here.
Please ensure you only report your test results on the Trust system and not to duplicate your submission on the national reporting system.
Colleagues are no longer required to confirm a COVID-19 positive lateral flow result with a PCR test.
Lateral flow device kits 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.
| Isolation guidance if you test positive
If you test positive you should follow the return to work guidance. All colleague who have received a positive COVID-19 test result, regardless of whether they have symptoms, are advised not to attend work for 5 days
Household Contacts Colleagues who are household contacts of a positive COVID-19 case will now be able to continue to work as normal if they remain asymptomatic and continue to test twice weekly. They will no longer be required to have a PCR test in order to return to work. If the LFD test is positive, then follow the above guidance. |
6. Reminder: Keep fit at Sandwell or City gym
As colleagues may be aware, the gym at Sandwell recently reopened. If you wish to use the gym facilities, simply register your interest with the wellbeing team and following an online induction you can commence using the gym, which is on the ground floor in Trinity House. The gym accommodates a maximum of two users at any one time and colleagues will be limited to a maximum of 40 minutes each.
At City gym, we’ve created the space you need to work out while keeping a safe distance. The gym has also been rearranged and clearly marked out for you to use safely, so it is easy for everyone to follow. The maximum number of users is five at any one time with the maximum gym time usage being one hour per visit, to allow other colleagues the opportunity to use the facility.
We’ve placed more hand sanitiser dispensers and wipes around both gyms so it’s easy to regularly clean your hands and equipment during your visit. We ask that you also sanitise your hands before entering the gym to keep yourself and others safe. For ventilation, colleagues will be responsible for opening windows whilst exercising and closing when finished.
Existing members: Your pass will already be activated ready for use.
For new members: Please contact Jatinder Sekhon, by emailing jatinder.sekhon@nhs.net or call 0121 507 3854 to complete your registration. The relevant forms can be found below: