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Living with COVID-19 Bulletin: Thursday 21 July

July 21, 2022

1. Update to COVID-19 terms and conditions: Joint letter to all colleagues from the Trust and Staff Side

On 21 February, the government set out their plans for living with COVID-19 which saw the withdrawal of legislation restricting public freedoms.

On 13 April 2022 the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) wrote to the joint chairs of the NHS Staff Council setting out their intention to withdraw the staff terms and conditions section of the COVID-19 workforce guidance. The Staff Council co-chairs received confirmation from the DHSC on 29 June 2022 outlining the timeline to withdraw the guidance.

The withdrawal of the guidance will see a return to normal contractual arrangements for staff and includes the removal of:

a.    COVID-19 sick pay (full pay) for COVID-19 related sickness absences; and
b.    COVID-19 special leave (full pay) for self-isolation

All remaining temporary enhancements within the guidance ended on 7 July 2022

Managing infection control

  • From 7 July 2022 the Trust started to  follow infection control guidelines set out by the UK Health Protection Agency(UKHSA), for all healthcare staff. This includes staff who test positive for COVID-19 and those who are required to stay away from their workplace.
  • If a member of staff is either asymptomatic or symptomatic but clinically well enough to work, they will be required to stay away from their workplace. In such cases the staff member will receive the pay they would receive if they were at work. This is regardless of whether the staff member can work from home, including on altered duties or not, during this period. This period of absence will be treated as authorised absence, not sickness absence.
  • Where possible, SWB will facilitate staff members to work from home where they have tested positive for COVID-19 or where, in line with the UKHSA guidance, their risk assessment deems it is not suitable for them to be physically present at work. In such circumstances it may be appropriate for managers to consider reallocating duties for a staff member to facilitate home working.

What does this mean for me?

  • If you are currently off work due to COVID related symptoms and have been on long term leave as a result, your manager, or another member of the management team, will meet with you over the next few weeks (either virtually or face to face) to discuss how this affects you. If you are a member of a Union, we strongly encourage you to seek their support at this meeting and beyond. After the meeting you will receive a letter from the manager outlining what was discussed and also formally confirming notice of withdrawal of the staff terms and conditions section of the COVID-19 workforce guidance. This means that any ongoing sickness leave from  1 September 2022, will be managed by the Trust absence policy Attendance-at-Work-Sickness-Absense-Policy.pdf (swbh.nhs.uk)
  • What will happen with regards to payments for sickness? All sickness periods that have been treated as COVID-19 sickness and have not been counted towards normal sickness absence (in relation to pay and/or sickness absence triggers) until 1 September, should retain that status. After 1 September 2022 this will be disregarded when calculating sick pay.
  • What if I need to self-isolate in line with the UKHSA guidance? You will be supported to work from home in the first instance wherever possible. Where this is not possible, you will be on ‘authorised absence’ and receive full pay as if at work. This will not be treated as sickness absence.
  • What happens if staff are required to stay away from the workplace in line with infection control and public health advice? Substantive staff who are clinically well but have a positive COVID-19 test or symptoms of a respiratory infection which require them to stay away from the workplace in line with UKHSA guidance should be given work they can complete remotely. Where this is not possible, they should receive confirmation that the time they spend away from work will be recorded as authorised absence (not sickness absence) and they will receive their full pay.

The Trust and the Trade Unions have not made this decision independently and we are following the guidance as issued by NHS Employers. For those who are directly affected we urge you to meet with your managers alongside your Trade Union representation where requested to do so. Details of Unions and Representatives can be found on Connect.  Or you can email the confidential Staff side collective email on swbh.unioncollective@nhs.net . For those not in a Union, you may contact Simon Morley our Trust Staff Side Convenor on Simon.morley1@nhs.net for advice and support.

A frequently asked questions sheet will be issued shortly to answer any questions you have or to reflect any issues already raised. You can read the COVID-19: NHS Staff joint council guidance here.

Frieza Mahmood, Chief People Officer

Simon Morley, Trust Convenor

 All managers should ensure that staff have seen this communication, especially those who may not access the intranet within the next 7-10 days. Roster users and managers will be contacted directly with guidance on any changes to processes. Attached is the guidance on recording absences on ESR.

2. New process for documenting patient lateral flow results

Colleagues who are carrying out patient lateral flow tests must ensure they document results using the newly launched form available on Unity with immediate effect.

The new form has structured fields which allow colleagues to accurately record results including the time and date tests were carried out and the symptom status of the patient. This also ensures that Infection Control are able to track, trace and manage outbreaks and incidents with greater accuracy.

The new LFT result recording form can be found on Unity simply by accessing the patient record and then clicking on the ‘Adhoc’ button , followed by selecting the ‘Assessment’ folder and selecting ‘Lateral Flow Test Form’ from the list of documents.

Full details on how to find the LFT record form, input results and review results can be found in the following QRG: Documenting Lateral Flow Tests QRG

3. Masks are required in all indoor spaces

Due to a rise in cases of COVID-19 within the community, in our hospitals and among our workforce, we have reintroduced fluid resistant surgical masks (FRSMs) as a minimum level of PPE in all indoor spaces and areas, this includes clinical and non-clinical areas.

Where face to face meetings need to take place, please ensure that masks are worn and that social distancing measures of at least one metre are in place.

Being cautious keeps us safe:

With rising cases of COVID-19, it is clear that we must remain cautious to avoid transmission of COVID-19, in particular to protect vulnerable colleagues and patients. Please ensure that you adopt safe practices and follow our IPC guidance including hand hygiene, PPE and be mindful of social distancing.

Our IPC arrangements continue to be reviewed weekly based on community case rates, hospital outbreaks, inpatient numbers and staff absence due to COVID-19.

Social distancing:

Please consider, where possible, social distancing measures to keep a minimum of 1 metre between you and those around you.

Face masks:

Colleagues and patients are also required to ensure they wear masks in clinical areas and communal areas in our hospital buildings. Colleagues are reminded to ensure they follow the correct PPE guidance when in direct contact with patients. You must also follow your individual risk assessment for PPE. Occasionally this will recommend a higher level of protection depending on your individual assessment.

If you see someone not wearing a mask where they should be, please respectfully challenge them.

Hand washing:

This is an essential part of infection, prevention and control. All colleagues must wash their hands and or use hand sanitiser frequently and always on entering and exiting clinical areas.

Bare below the elbow:

Please ensure that you are bare below the elbow whilst in clinical areas. This means your sleeves must be rolled up and any wrist jewellery should be removed prior to entering the area.

Coats and bags:

Outdoor coats should be removed prior to entering a clinical area and should be placed along with bags in lockers. They should not be taken into the main ward area. Handbags should not to be taken on ward rounds.