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COVID-19 Bulletin: Wednesday 3 February

February 4, 2021

1. New: The other COVID-19 battle we face

We continue to battle not just the virus inside our services but misinformation outside of it. As you know, there is a lot of false information being spread not just about vaccinations and the COVID-19 vaccine but there continues to be elements of the population who persist in denying the reality of the impact of Coronavirus.

Our latest message to combat this, is a video we’ve filmed inside of the ICU at City Hospital which was made in partnership with the Black Country and West Birmingham CCG. It features the first-hand account of our own Dr Nick Sherwood and Chief Medical Officer of the CCG Dr Masood Ahmed as well as West Bromwich Albion club legend Brendon Batson discussing the importance of vaccination.

For those staff members that use social media we ask if you could share this important message, either via the YouTube video above or by liking and sharing the supporting messages that can be found on our official Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram accounts. If you are not already following our five main social media accounts please consider doing so.

If you come across false information regarding COVID-19 please report it to the social media platform using the report function. If this also directly involves our Trust please immediately bring it to the attention of the Communications Team via swbh.comms@nhs.net.

2. Reminder: Swabbing pathway changes

As always, we are constantly evaluating our procedures and recommendations to see what provides the best outcome. Sometimes this results in change: as a result of guidance from outside the Trust, in reaction to the changing situation in our local community, as a necessity due to altered supplies or the availability of our clinical partners, and of course our own findings as a healthcare Trust.

Our existing guidance relating to the swabbing pathway are the latest to receive an update.

In summary, the sensitivity of a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test is around  80 per cent. With this in mind, colleagues must look at the clinical presentation with swab result  when deciding how to stream a patient. For example if the swab is negative but the clinical presentation is highly suggestive of COVID-19 they must be streamed onto a Red ward or for patient presenting with low suspicion of COVID-19 and in Red stream initially, with subsequent negative swab result must be transferred onto a Contact ward (Newton 3) while they await a further PCR test.

You can find the COVID-19 Infection control patient risk stratification table below. Both it, and the guidance in full can be found on the Connect swabbing pathways page. Please ensure all staff are aware of both these important documents so we ensure our patients are cared for in the right place.

3. Reminder: Scrubs – Don’t take your work home with you

Colleagues must return scrubs that they have stored or stockpiled at home. It is essential that colleagues abide by the rules and think of others by returning their scrubs. If everyone does this we will have enough to go round so that each time a colleague needs scrubs they can have a newly laundered pair.

All used scrubs must be placed in the blue trollies situated on the links and in departmental areas so they can be laundered and put back in to circulation.

No scrubs rules:

 No scrubs should be stockpiled in lockers – they must be laundered regularly on site

  • No scrubs should be binned, they should be deposited in to the blue trollies situated on the links and in departmental areas
  • No scrubs should be worn outside the hospital or while travelling to and from hospital or taken home for laundering. By doing so you are putting yourself, your family and the public at risk.

 

4. Reminder: Let’s talk about mental health

Managing our stress and psychological health at this time is as important as our physical health. Taking care of basic needs and employing helpful coping strategies are top priorities.

The Trust offers a range of support including one to one counselling, referral to mental health practitioners as well as helpful advice through the Wellbeing Together newsletter. But it is important that you decide what the right support is for you.

Remember, it’s ok to not be ok, and if you aren’t, there is support available to you.

An example of this is Frontline19 –  an independent UK nationwide service delivering psychological support to those who are, or have been on the frontline of COVID-19. The service can ensure you get the right help quickly and easily and is free and confidential. So, if you need someone to talk to, they can put you in touch with a therapist and you can take it from there.

Some common themes healthcare professionals request support for include:

  • Worrying and over-thinking a situation and its consequences
  • Poor concentration on other things and easily distracted
  • Feelings of anxiety
  • Feelings of panic
  • Irritability
  • Restlessness and fidgeting
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Poor daily functioning and difficulty carrying out routine tasks
  • Avoidance of usual tasks and routines
  • Feelings of helplessness and loss of control or incompetence
  • Fatigue and muscle ache

To get started all you need to do is fill in a short online form. Pairing usually takes seven days or sooner if possible. Visit https://www.frontline19.com/ for more information.