Thank you for your ongoing hard work and support. Please remember the Staff Covid Website is the go to place for all the latest Covid information. The password for access is: STHKcovid19
Minute’s silence
The Trust will be joining NHS organisations across the country tomorrow morning to observe a minute’s silence at 11am in memory of all healthcare workers who have died during the Covid-19 pandemic.
This has been organised as part of International Workers’ Memorial Day.
Staff are invited to join from within their own departments.
Testing of asymptomatic patients for COVID-19:
FROM TODAY ALL PATIENTS WHO REQUIRE INPATIENT ADMISSION( i.e. at least admission overnight) MUST BE TESTED FOR COVID-19 REGARDLESS OF SYMPTOMS OR CLINICAL FEATURES OF COVID-19.
Therefore, even if the patient does not fulfil the case definition, send a COVID-19 test sample in addition to the usual investigations appropriate to the patient’s clinical condition. The test must be carried out without delay at the point where decision to admit is made.
For asymptomatic patients, a COVID-19 test can be requested on Medway (under test name COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus PCR and on the ‘Test required’ drop down, select ‘Asymptomatic admission screen’).
Note the Medway request form and specimen must be accompanied by a completed form E28.
Testing of Patients with symptoms/signs of COVID-19:
The case definition(updated regularly) now includes any patient requiring admission to hospital with clinical/radiological evidence of pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome or influenza like illness (or develop these after admission).
If a patient fulfils criteria for a possible case, do the following immediately:
- Isolate patient in a single room with respiratory precautions (if no side room is available, patient can be cared for in a bay).
- Minimise number of staff entering the room.
- Wear the appropriate PPE: Click here to see a summary of PPE to be worn
- Send samples for testing, in addition to usual investigations appropriate to the patient’s clinical condition, as per GOV.UK guidance. COVID-19 test can be requested on Medway (under the test name COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus PCR and on the ‘Test required’ drop down, select ‘SYMPTOMATIC patient test’. Note that the Medway request form and specimen must be accompanied by a completed form E28.
Infection screening
We are aware that staff are incredibly busy and focussed on supporting the Trust’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, it is vital that we continue to keep our patients safe from other infection risks. Please remember to complete all the appropriate routine screenings for patients both on admission and throughout their stay, including MRSA swabs and screening for CPE in line with Trust policy.
Discharging patients to a care home
Information on how to process patients being discharged to a care home for both existing care home patients and those going to 24h care for the first time is now available on the Staff Covid Website
Returning to work after Covid
Staff are reminded that it is safe to return to work 7 days from symptom onset if clinical improvement has occurred and you have been without a fever for 48 hours.
A post-viral cough is known to persist for several weeks in some cases. If this is the only persistent symptom after 7 days and you have been without a fever for 48 hours it is safe to return to work.
Ramadan
The arrival of Ramadan amidst the COVID-19 pandemic has led to clinicians and patients with chronic health conditions asking questions about the safety of fasting in this month. With this in mind, the British Islamic Medical Association (BIMA) has collated a useful set of guidance, risk assessments and decision support tools.
Full background and context of the guidance is available on the Staff Covid Website
And from the following link: https://britishima.org/ramadan-rapid-review/.
#HiddenHospitalHeroes
Today we say thank you to the security and car parking team who in recent weeks have helped hundreds of our staff to safely stand outside our hospitals every Thursday night and clap for carers. It’s such an important event for us all and we couldn’t do it without them. Thanks for having our back team! We really appreciate it.
