Heartbeat: SCaT Centre rises to pandemic challenge

February 18, 2021

When the pandemic was declared in March last year, our colleagues in the SCaT centre (Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia) sprang into action to ensure they could continue supporting their patients. Lead Nurse Liz Green explained: “Following the announcement and our assessment of the safest way to care for our patient group we moved straight into virtual telephone clinics, spending time each week to phone our patients due to come in the next week to tell them not to attend as instead they would get a phone call.

“Patients both understood and appreciated this response to COVID. They were a shielding population so did not want to present to the hospital unless necessary. All day case pain management and blood transfusions ran throughout the pandemic. We were able to relocate our patient group very quickly to the BTC, as it was not used at the time since outpatient activity had been cancelled. We stayed there, along with immunology and the medical infusion suite, for about four months. The national haemoglobinopathy panel held weekly meetings on ‘zoom’ throughout this time to update and inform the centres. This ensured we kept up with current advice for our patient group. It was good to be able to tell our patients that this national level of communication was happening.”

During this time there was a decline in our inpatient activity, as the centre averaged two patients, instead of their normal six each day. Pain management is a primary concern for this patient group, so pharmacy arranged home delivery of essential medications to keep patients well.

The team run telephone clinics to identify any tests needed by patients, who then are able to book to come in at convenient times.

This ensures a safer patient flow. The team has also relocated to a bigger department where they are able to socially distance more effectively.

Sixteen year old Ibrahim is a sickle cell patient who needs treatment on the unit every four weeks. He appreciates the measures Liz and her nursing team have put in place to protect him and others like him. He said: “I am worried about the COVID pandemic, but I know it is safe to come into the hospital, because they are keeping me safe.”

However, the changes were not without challenges, as Liz recounted: “As a team we responded quickly, putting our patient at the forefront of any decisions we made. Our patient group is around 500 individuals, with varying needs. We were working with reduced staffing as half our colleagues were by necessity redeployed to help other areas in their response.

“We now have a unit that is located near the back of the hospital which will allow us to continue to function throughout the pandemic in a safe socially distanced way.