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COVID-19 Bulletin: Tuesday 23 March

March 23, 2021

1. New: Shielding guidance

Shielding for those who are extremely clinically vulnerable from COVID-19 is due to end on 31 March and this will have implications for a number of colleagues. A letter will be going out from our Chief People Officer, Frieza Mahmood over the next few days to all staff who have been flagged as shielding to reassure them of the processes in place to support them back to work and asking them to complete a risk assessment  to inform discussions with their manager.

There is no automatic expectation for staff who are shielding to return to full duties from day one of restrictions lifting and managers will work with affected colleagues to support a safe and steady return as they may have concerns or be anxious around returning to the workplace.

For more information please see national guidance update from NHS Employers by clicking here.

A flow chart outlining the management process to support staff is also available on Connect here.

2. New: COVID infections increase in pockets of West Bromwich

Although we have seen a marked reduction in the number of COVID-19 cases within the community, unfortunately there are still pockets of Sandwell where infections remain high. The areas affected in West Bromwich are Newton, Greets Green and Lyng, with new data showing a surge in infection rates in those areas. These statistics – published on Monday by Sandwell Council – come despite the borough showing one of the fastest falls in COVID-19 case rates in the country. Please continue to follow the current restrictions.

3. New: BME Staff Network hosted event 29 March: COVID vaccine your questions answered

The BME Staff Network are hosting a Q&A event aimed at answering the questions and concerns you may have about receiving the COVID vaccine. They will be joined by a panel of senior leaders within the organisation including:

  • Dr Masood Aga, Consultant and Specialty Lead in Occupational Medicine
  • Puneet Sharma, Chief Pharmacist
  • Dr David Carruthers, Medical Director

There will also be an opportunity hear from Steven Shanu, Lead Pharmacist, who will talk about his own experiences of being part of the clinical trials for the Astra Zeneca vaccine.

The event will be held on Monday 29 March, between 1pm and 2pm. Please join in and send your questions prior to the event to BME Staff Network Vice Chair, Malik Umar malik.umar@nhs.net.

Everyone is welcome.

To join the event, please see instructions below:

Additional Q&As are available on Connect on a number of subjects. Please click below for more details:

4. New: National Day of Reflection

Many colleagues will be aware that today is National Day of Reflection designated to remember those who have died during the pandemic and to show support for everyone who has been bereaved over the last 12 months. To mark the occasion at 12 noon, one minute’s silence was observed by colleagues across the Trust.

Spearheaded by the charity Marie Curie, today marks the one year anniversary of the country going into lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Pictured below are colleagues outside Sandwell main entrance.

Shine a light at 8pm tonight: We are also urging everyone to shine a light or light a candle at 8pm tonight for all those who have tragically lost a friend or family member due to the COVID pandemic.

5. Updated: Change to PPE guidance regarding Amber stream

Due to the reduction of COVID-19 positive patients being admitted and the reduced case numbers in the community, we’ve now amended our PPE guidance to match national Public Health England guidelines.

This means when colleagues are working on an Amber ward the PPE required when in direct contact with a patient will be a fluid resistant mask, eye protection (sessional use), disposable apron and disposable gloves.

We must remind colleagues that all red wards or for all Aerosol Generating Procedures in Red and Amber areas, you must continue to wear enhanced PPE (FFP3 mask/silicon mask/respiratory hood).

In addition to the required PPE in your area, you are encouraged to follow your individual risk assessment for PPE. If you have not yet completed your COVID risk assessments you can do so on Connect. This may mean that, due to these individual risk assessments, different levels of PPE are being worn on the same ward.

Note: Revised posters have been distributed to relevant wards. However a supply of the revised posters are held by the communications team. If you need an extra poster please call ext. 5303 to arrange collection. 

You can read the full updated PPE guidance on Connect.

6. Updated: LAMP testing continues

LAMP (Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification) testing continues to be rolled out to all colleagues at the Trust – thank you to everyone who has taken up this new speedy and more accurate way of testing for COVID-19.

Instructions for the test have now been updated and can be found here. Changes have been made to the way the request form is folded and where it is now placed, within the bag provided.

We must remind everyone that LAMP testing is open to both clinical and non-clinical colleagues. It is vital that we continue to test despite colleagues having had the COVID vaccination and infection rates starting to drop.  

Additional specimen collections bins are now available at City, Sandwell and in the community:

  • City: on the main spine by Pharmacy, A&E and outside pathology along with the existing drop off point in BTC phlebotomy
  • Sandwell: Bryan Knight, outside pathology and A&E  along with existing drop point on the 1st floor outpatient phlebotomy
  • Community: Lyng centre, Neptune health park, Oldbury health centre, Victoria health centre and Rowley Regis Hospital

If you haven’t yet signed off for LAMP testing, please ring 0121 507 2664 option 6 to register and book a kit collection slot between Monday to Friday, 8am – 6pm. If the result comes back positive you and your household will need to immediately isolate for 10 days and you will not require a PCR swab test to confirm the result.

7. Updated: Vaccination centre is back up and running

Today sees the reopening of the vaccination hub at the Education Centre, based at Sandwell site, for those colleagues who will be receiving their second dose of the Pfizer vaccine.

Colleagues will already have their second appointment booked. You are encouraged to keep your original appointment or rearrange via the vaccination call centre (on 0121 507 4112), but you are advised not to go beyond 12 weeks after your first jab. It is essential that you attend as there will be no further appointments beyond 26 April for you to receive your Pfizer second dose. The Sandwell vaccination hub will also be open on Bank Holidays so please attend if you are booked on those days.

If you have had your 2nd vaccine dose elsewhere please could you ring and cancel your appointment, stating that you have had your vaccine and where you had it so that we can update our records and offer the slots to other people.

It’s not too late to have your first jab!

If you are yet to get the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccination, you can still book in to get your jab at either Walsall Hospital or at the newly opened at Tipton Sports Academy vaccination centre. Alternatively colleagues can also book their jab through the Your Health Partnership Primary Care Network at Whiteheath Medical Centre in Oldbury.

To book your jab online use one of the following links:

If you had your first dose at City Hospital’s hub, based in the Cardiac Rehab Gym, at Sheldon Block, please complete the following form to ensure you secure an appointment for your second jab:  https://forms.office.com/r/i9HgiAvGgN.

The team at the vaccination hub will contact you nearer the time to confirm the date of the appointment.