Heartbeat: Community outbreak team – rapid response to support our population

July 28, 2020

Thinking back to only a few short months ago, Tammy Davies, Group Director of Primary Care, Community & Therapies, recalls her thoughts on seeing news reports about the then called ‘Wuhan flu’.

She remembers: “I must admit I didn’t anticipate just how much of an impact it would have both on our patients, local community and service delivery.

“Towards the end of March when we saw our first cases in the Trust, I realised that this would probably be the biggest national crisis the NHS would face in my lifetime. We quickly formed a seven-day group tactical response team to rapidly re-evaluate how we deliver services and deal with the changing picture.

“I felt apprehensive, and at times overwhelmed but mostly really lucky to have such an experienced and dedicated team. We knew we had to act quickly to meet the challenge, so turned one of our large offices into a tactical response team where the senior team all based themselves.

This helped with team bonding and moral support. I ensured the entire group and all staff were supported and prepared by redirecting resources into essential and urgent work and, ensuring colleagues had rest and access to wellbeing services.

“The outbreak response team was set up to undertake a same day response to areas of the community who have suspected outbreaks of COVID-19. Operating with a minimum of two nurses – one senior – two support workers, a driver and our contact centre team, we are also supported by women and child health colleagues for outbreaks in children. The team also can call on therapists and therapist assistants as needed.

“The team aims to successfully swab everyone who is suspected of having COVID-19 and provide support and reassurance when people are understandably anxious. Our target is to respond on the same day or within 24 hours.”

Covering the Sandwell area and operating seven days a week, the team’s core hours are 8am to 4pm, but they are flexible and will work later if required. They are ready should a community surge happen and consider a surge to be any increase in COVID-19 cases which may happen as lockdown restrictions are relaxed. However, they are also anticipating a surge in demand for community services from people with chronic illness who may deteriorate through a lack of medical/nursing and therapy support due to the crisis creating fear in patients about attending hospital appointments and seeking help. The team are also concerned that people may have missed immunisations and cancer screenings and this too may result in a later surge.

Tammy continued: “I am proud of how the group has quickly altered usual services to respond to the changing picture. In addition, the team have worked with the local community, public health, CCG and local authority to protect our patients and the local population.”

Marian Long, Group Head of Nursing in Community and Therapies clinical group, added: “With a remit to deliver a seven-day response service to support the control of local outbreaks as part of the next phase of test and trace, we’ve been working in partnership with our public health partners. By identifying and containing potential outbreaks, in workplaces, housing complexes, care homes and schools as well as supporting our Trust in ward-based outbreaks we can mobilise our team and respond promptly.

“This service is vital to help reduce the risk of a second surge and we are proud of our role in supporting this. Our task would not have been achievable without our fabulous contact centre, the energy of key individuals, namely Andy Churm and Jo Tonks, our very patient drivers Cash, Andy, Malcolm and Peter and expert support form Julie Booth and Dr Saluja.”

Kulwinder Johal, Clinical Directorate Lead in Ambulatory Therapies and End of Life, concluded: “As a group, the ethos has been that we are all in it together, so all staff in the group have supported the ask by working flexibly around the demands of the day to demonstrate our ‘can do’ attitude.”