Skip to content Skip to main menu Skip to utility menu

COVID-19 Bulletin: Tuesday 12 January

January 12, 2021

1. Update: PPE – Treat every patient as if they could be COVID+

Increased cases of COVID-19 in the community are having a huge impact on our services as we continue to see a high number of patients with Coronavirus.

 

You will be aware that patients regardless of whether they are on an Amber ward can very quickly test positive for COVID-19. In order to keep each other and all our patients safe, you are advised to treat each patient as being potentially COVID+ so you are reminded to adhere to PPE requirements in your area.

 

Before Christmas, we updated our guidance around PPE which includes clarification around when and where you should be bare below the elbows.

 

Key changes to the guidance include the following:

 

Don’t forget: In both Amber and high risk areas you must also wear eye protection for sessional use!

 

Colleagues carrying out a single Aerosol Generated Procedure (AGP), for example intubation, extubation, tracheomtomy, suctioning or those having close contact with a patient, should wear a single use gown with full sleeves with a plastic apron over the gown. Please remove the gown after the task is completed.

 

For sessional work within a VERY HIGH RISK area or an AGP area, a sessional gown with rolled up sleeves (BARE BELOW THE ELBOWS) should be worn. Colleagues should wear a disposable plastic apron over the sessional use gown and change this in between patients. Please wash your hands and arms in between patients.

 

This guidance is for ward areas only (not critical care) and for patient-facing clinical colleagues.

 

If you are visiting the ward from another area, a minimum requirement when entering the unit will be to wear a mask (please note: staff must follow their individual risk assessment for PPE).

 

This guidance must be followed so as we maintain strong infection prevention and control measures across all our sites.

 You are able to view the full guidance on PPE here including a document which explains the new policy on PPE.

 

These are the new posters – click to view as larger images:

Remember: PPE is only part of what is necessary in order to combat Coronavirus and keep ourselves, our patients and the wider public safe.

·         Regular and effective hand washing is the best way to reduce the spread of the virus.

·         Practice social distancing by leaving 2 metres (6ft) between you and those around you.

·         Wear a mask when in communal rooms for both clinical and non-clinical areas.

 

2. Update: Change to vaccination guidance – your second dose

You may already be aware that national guidance has recently changed with regard to the roll out of the COVID-19 vaccine in order to increase national immunity and help control the spread of the virus.

The priority now is to vaccinate as many high risk groups as soon as possible with the first dose of the vaccine. You will still need to have your second dose but it is important to remember:

  • Receiving the first vaccine gives you very good immunity against the virus after 22 days.
  • You will still receive your second booster dose – this will be 12 weeks after your first dose.
  • Your second dose will be from the same manufacturer as the first.
  • This change in timescale does not breach any legal rights or invalidate consent.
  • This change has been agreed as clinically safe and effective by all four of the UK’s Chief Medical Officers.

If you have already received your first dose, you do not need to do anything – you will be contacted with a rescheduled appointment. All new vaccination appointments will be made with a 12 week follow up slot for the second dose.

Please continue to adhere to inflectional control measures including social distancing and the wearing of appropriate PPE at all times.

Could you be a vaccinator?

We are looking for colleagues to come forward and train to be part of our vaccination programme.

You do not need to be a registered health professional. If you can help out, contact Helen Bromage, Associate Chief Nurse (helen.bromage@nhs.net).

3. Update: Purple reigns again for swab tests

Purple bags are back in circulation.

If speed is of the essence with your sample, then purple bags make identification and prioritisation easier for the lab. These are replacing the “being phased out” urgent two hours priority stickers, which can still be used as necessary.

Wards must regularly check to ensure that they have adequate stock of COVID-19 swabs and purple bags for the weekends and out of hours.

Please note that 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 bagged specimen to a purple urgent COVID sample bag
  • The purple urgent bag can now also be posted into the COVID drop off box.

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

4. Reminder: Windows of opportunity

The virus that causes COVID-19 is spread through very small aerosols and droplets released in exhaled breath. There is evidence to show that in some cases these aerosols can be carried more than 2m in the air and could cause infection if they are inhaled. This is most likely to happen in indoor environments when the ventilation in a room is poor.

If people spend sufficient longer periods of time in the room, the virus can build up in air and people can inhale enough of it to cause infection. With this in mind it is important that we open windows in staff rest rooms as well as wards to help reduce any possible build up – it’s something that you should also practice in your own homes too.

Now it won’t have escaped your notice just how cold it is recently, especially of an evening. However despite this it is still very important to have a degree of ventilation – in particular to those areas that rely on natural ventilation. So even if it’s cold, please make sure windows are opened. You can do this for 10 minutes and then close them and it will still make a difference.

5. Reminder: Fit testing is handy dandy for a Handanhy

We have a large number (20,000+) of the Handanhy FFP3 masks in stock. If you already wear an Alpha mask, why not get fit tested for a Handanhy mask too?

To book yourself in for fit testing please call ext. 5050 and the team will book you into a slot at a site, date and time to suit you.

6. Reminder: Access to vaccine hub at Sandwell expanded

As the vaccination programme continues to roll out, we are able to widen the criteria for receiving the vaccine from our hub in Sandwell.

Initially vaccines were being offered to very high, high and moderate risk staff as well as those who were in contact with patients with COVID-19. However we’re now in a position to offer any staff members who have direct patient contact to make an appointment to receive the vaccine too.

Colleagues meeting this criteria, including any in “red” areas who have yet to do so, should contact the booking team on 0121 507 4112 to arrange a suitable appointment time.

Please look out for further updates about the vaccine hub in future editions of the COVID-19 bulletin.