Today’s cabinet update is below
- Track and Trace
- Covid Secure Environment Risk Assessment
- Shielding for extremely vulnerable patients
- Staff Antibody Testing
- Staff Antibody Testing results
- Registered health or care professionals travelling to the UK to provide essential healthcare
- PPE Stock Update
- Stay Safe posters available to download for your area
- Hidden Hospital Heroes
TEST AND TRACE
The National COVID Test and Trace was launched on 28 May 2020. Contact tracing is important to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to contain and stop outbreaks.
There are two ways in which staff can be contacted, for testing and tracing and this will either via the Trust if a member of staff has tested positive or via email/text/phone if a member of staff has been in contact with a member of the public that has tested positive.
Detailed information on how to follow the Test and Trace process can be found on the Management Guidance section of the Staff Covid Website: https://covid.sthk.nhs.uk/management-guidance/ (password: STHKcovid19)
If the member of staff has been contacted directly, line managers are to follow the process chart on the above page. Line Managers are to record the absence on the system as Special Increasing Balance, Infection Precaution, COVID, COVID
If the Trust is notified of a contact, Line Managers will be informed and are to follow a separate process (available on the Management Guidance page), trace contacts and inform them of the as per the chart.
These staff are to have the Test and Trace Form completed and recorded on the system as Special Increasing Balance, Infection Precaution, COVID, COVID
COVID SECURE ENVIRONMENT RISK ASSESSMENT
From today, ALL staff are required to wear a surgical face mask within clinical AND public areas.
Managers of office areas should perform a Covid Secure Risk Assessment and if the department is ‘Covid Secure’, staff DO NOT have to wear a face mask in this area.
To be classed as Covid Secure you must have:
- Carried out the Covid Secure Risk Assessment
- Access to hand washing facilities and alcohol gel
- Taken all reasonable steps to help staff to work from home, where this is possible
- Taken all reasonable steps to maintain a 2m distance between work stations and seating areas
- Provisions in place to ensure staff are able to clean their workstations/ desks at the beginning and end of each shift
Visit the Staff Covid Website for further information and to download the Risk Assessment Form: https://covid.sthk.nhs.uk/covid-secure-workplace/
(password: STHKcovid19)
Once your area is classed ‘Covid Secure’ you MUST download a Covid Secure Certificate and clearly display this in your office area: https://covid.sthk.nhs.uk/covid-secure-workplace/
If your area is not classed as ‘Covid Secure’ your line manager will work with you to do everything practically possible to make the area secure.
If your office area cannot be made ‘Covid Secure’ then staff are required to wear a face mask in this area AT ALL TIMES.
SHIELDING FOR EXTREMELY VULNERABLE PATIENTS
An alert has been added to MEDWAY for patients who are at the very highest risk from COVID-19 and have been advised to carry out “Shielding”. More information for staff is available on the COVID intranet site on how to manage these patients in hospital.
(password:STHKcovid19)
STAFF ANTIBODY TESTING
Can clinical staff carrying out the test please remember to label the sample with 3 identifiers
More detailed information about how staff can have the Covid-19 antibody test and the process for carrying out the test are available on the staff covid website:
https://covid.sthk.nhs.uk/staff-antibody-testing/
(Password: STHKcovid19)
STAFF ANTIBODY TEST RESULTS
Please allow 7 working days (not including weekends) for your results to be issued.
Please DO NOT call the Microbiology Department for your results as they will no longer be able to provide them.
During busy periods it may take longer to login, if this is the case please try again in 2 hours.
If you have not received your results after 7 working days then please contact 0151 290 4542 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm)
For more information, please visit the Staff Covid Website:
https://covid.sthk.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/COVID-antibody-results-comms-15.06.20-2.pdf
(password: STHKcovid19)
REGISTERED HEALTH OR CARE PROFESSIONALS TRAVELLING TO THE UK TO PROVIDE ESSENTIAL HEALTHCARE
Staff will need to complete the Public Health passenger locator form before they travel to the UK.
They will not need to self-isolate for 14 days if they are staying in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. They will need to self-isolate for 14 days if you are staying in Scotland.
They will need to show:
- They will start work within 14 days of arrival in the UK
- proof of professional registration with a UK-based regulator
- an employment contract or letter of confirmation from either an:
- NHS Trust
- independent healthcare provider
- independent social care provider
PPE STOCK UPDATE
The Purchasing and Supplies Department have released an update on PPE stock supplies, including the ordering of surgical masks- please visit the Staff Covid webstie : https://covid.sthk.nhs.uk/stock/
(password: STHKcovid19)
STAY SAFE POSTERS AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD FOR YOUR AREA
Stay Safe posters are available on the Staff Covid Website: https://covid.sthk.nhs.uk/posters/
(password: STHKcovid19) for you to download and print for your area:
- Clean your hands
- Stay 2m apart
- Face masks/coverings must be worn
- Take a mask here
- Dispose of your mask here
Please ensure that all posters are printed in full colour (printers have been adjusted so this is possible).
HIDDEN HOSPITAL HEROES
Ann Marr has nominated the Executive Team as today’s hidden heroes:
“At the start of the pandemic, I was asked to oversee the response of all hospitals across Cheshire and Merseyside.
This has meant that I have relied more heavily than ever on support from the other members of the Executive Team.
They have done an exceptional job in rising to the unprecedented challenge of managing such a difficult situation, and I want to sincerely thank them all. I am very proud of all they have achieved.”
