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COVID-19 bulletin: Wednesday 1 April

April 1, 2020

This is our once a day bulletin. This will take all national and professional guidance and information and tell you which changes we are implementing when and how. Please use this bulletin and daily cascade arrangements within clinical groups to guide local action.  Remember KINDNESS is our watchword in implementing our plans.

The latest Chief Executive update about Covid-19 was issued this morning (Update 8).  Take a look at that for details of bank rate changes for band 5/6 nurses and midwives to support staffing continuity through the Surge period.  If you accept five or more shifts in April or May we will pay you more.

1. Psychological support for employees at this time

Our programme of support is growing all the time.  The menu includes:

Personal Resilience Coaching is available via phone / video link. If you would like to have an initial conversation to see if this might help, please email richard.burnell@nhs.net to arrange a call, appointments are immediately available.  Colleagues who are self-isolating or shielding will be telephoned by a colleague to check on their health and wellbeing and ensure they have everything they need.

Clinical leads are encouraged to debrief with the colleagues at the end of a shift and our junior doctors have established a 3 Squares Club programme. More details can be found at https://connect2.swbh.nhs.uk/medical-education/postgraduate-information/welcome-to-the-swbh-wellbeing/

Counselling support is free and confidential with external, trusted providers, Kaleidoscope. Ask for a counselling appointment and leave your phone number on ext 3306. A counsellor will be in touch. A ‘drop in’ counselling telephone wellbeing session can be accessed via one of the Trust’s accredited counsellors. Linda, Mondays between 7-9pm Telephone 07973664125 and Tony, Thursdays between 7-9pm Telephone 07970225929.  We also have an agreement with Health Assured Counselling who provide telephone and video link counselling for all colleagues 24/7 – to access this, please ring 0800 783 2808.

2. FIT test, FIT test, FIT test

We are fortunate to have equipment and staff able to undertake FIT tests.  Because the pandemic supply stock is being distributed country-wide we have a lot of staff who are tested on something other than what we have.  So if you have not been tested or are finding you need to use something else we need to hear from you.

FIT testing appointments are running every day and we have a 24 hour line in place to book an appointment – please call 0121 507 5050 to arrange an appointment before your next shift. Your appointment will be prioritised based on your upcoming shifts so book as soon as possible. You must be clean shaven. If you have been fit tested previously we recommend you continue to use the mask that you have been face fit tested with. The Alfa S mask is currently in limited supply so please book an appointment for fit testing so that you can be tested with alternative masks. You should be 30 minutes clear from eating and drinking at your appointment and not have smoked or vaped for the hour beforehand.

3. Scrubs and laundry

The Trust has issued three pieces of guidance on scrubs:

  1. Mandatory areas where they must be worn (delivered to you)
  2. Red areas where non-uniformed staff should wear scrubs
  3. An option for other staff in red areas to wear scrubs

Scrub supply is increasing and by this weekend we expect to be close to matching demand.  In the meantime we issued information on laundering your uniform in the bulletin on Saturday 28 March.  Scrubs and PPE should not be worn outdoors.  If this practice continues then our outlets will decline to serve people wearing prohibited garments and equipment.

Laundry arrangements are being made to help staff to launder via the organisation from next week, as not all hotels provide access to laundry securely.

4. Transport to and from work

UBER are offering NHS staff free rides currently.  Meanwhile, the Trust is covering the cost of taxis if you live in one of our hotels and use Ola.  Other Trust employees who use Ola will get a 50% discount on work related travel.  Look out for more information over the next two days on how to manage ‘Sunday service’ bus routes with shift times.

New pilot bus routes are in place to help transport staff to and from work. For City Hospital you can now get on a free NHS staff only shuttle bus that runs from the Winson Green Metro stop direct to City. This currently runs between 07.00 and 09.00 and 15.00 and 17.00 Monday to Friday.  We are working with National Express and the Mayor of the West Midlands on more routes designed with you in mind.

5. Temporary deployment and re-training

Thank you to everyone working so hard to be ready to work in Intensive Care or on one of our wards.  It is a big change.  Unity needs getting used to.  New team members.  Different patients and processes of care.  And altered shift patterns.  Make sure you get involved with the training and ask questions.  If you have worries about the pay and conditions under which you will be working give extension 3116 a call and they will advise you.

In some departments there has been some confusing messages given about shift patterns and so revised guidance is being issued.  In simple terms:  Part time and daytime workers are entitled to not agree to work more hours or overnight respectively.  Revised shift patterns similar to the current pattern worked are being developed from which reasonable adjustment requests will be considered.  The more flexibility everyone can offer the easier it will be for absolutely everyone.  So please, for this limited period, think about how you can make your contribution.

On that note of contribution, look out for details on Friday of how you can opt in to work in another department and help with our efforts as we gear up in areas like portering, cleaning and across our ward clerk brigade.  Everyone matters.