10.07.2020
Today’s staff update is below:
- Covid Secure Risk Assessments
- Procurement Guidance and Update
- Covid Heroes
COVID SECURE RISK ASSESSMENTS
It is the responsibility of manager / ward managers / matrons to ensure that all areas have a Covid Secure Risk Assessment.
This includes office areas/meeting rooms within ALL wards and clinical departments.
Once the Risk Assessment is completed, ALL offices/meeting rooms must display a maximum number of occupants that can be accommodated safely to comply with social distancing requirements.
Any occupancy over this maximum number means that staff must wear PPE.
You can download the poster to display on the door here: https://covid.sthk.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/STHK-Social-Distancing-Stay-Safe-Maximum-Number-A4-v1.pdf
(Password: STHKcovid19)
More details of the assessment can be found on the Staff Covid Website (password: STHKcovid19): https://covid.sthk.nhs.uk/covid-secure-workplace/
If an area CANNOT be made Covid Secure, this should first be escalated to senior management to do everything that is practically possible to make the area secure.
PROCUREMENT GUIDANCE AND UPDATE
For stock information and ordering see below or visit the Staff Covid Website
(password: STHKcovid19)
Surgical masks:
If you are currently receiving the “PPE Top Up Service” no further action is necessary, your departments will continue to get masks delivered.
For all other departments please raise a requisition (ideally once a week) for masks. These will be delivered to you within 48hrs.
In Oracle (pictured below) please type “iirmask” and it will automatically bring up the masks to select.
All masks are to be kept secure but readily available for staff in each department.
Please do not attempt to collect any from the ‘White Space’ unless it is a genuine emergency.
PPE:
The team are still running a PPE issue service Monday to Friday 9am-5pm from the White Space at Whiston Hospital.
The following PPE items are in stock:
- Surgical Masks
- Nitrile Gloves
- Aprons
- FFP3 Masks
- Gowns
- Coveralls
- Long cuff gloves
- Goggles
- Visors
Most of these items are sent from the National Pandemic Store but the Procurement Team are also working to find other sources of PPE to assist with this stock.
PPE Top Up Service
If you use a lot of PPE and your department does not receive the top up service or you do receive the service and need to adjust delivery levels please contact purchasing@sthk.nhs.uk (title your email “PPE weekly stock”)
Product updates:
- All alcohol wall gels need to be ordered by your usual process (ie Materials Management or via Oracle)
- Wipes need to be ordered via Oracle- the product codes and availability change on a daily basis, so before ordering please email purchasing@sthk.nhs.uk and title your email “Wipes”
- FFP3 masks- if all other FFP3 masks have been fit tested and none are suitable, we do stock half face respirators, please ask your department lead to email purchasing@sthk.nhs.uk to request one of these, please title the email “FFP3 masks”.
Along with respirators we have supply of 3M 1863 and limited amount of 1863+ FFP3 masks. There are also 3M 9330+ which is the longer term replacement for the 3M 8833.
The team is working with other Trusts to address the FFP3 national supply issues- there are no longer 3M 8833 available across the country but the Procurement Team are working on sourcing alternative FFP3 masks and if you wish to fit test any of these then please email purchasing@sthk.nhs.uk
- Aprons- much of the supply we are getting is now in flat packs and not rolls
If you have any further questions, please email: purchasing@sthk.nhs.uk
NHS COVID HEROES
We take our hearing for granted, but imagine having hearing loss and relying on aids only for the pandemic to close services and you’re unable to maintain or repair them. Hearing loss is isolating at the best of times and many of our patients are elderly.
But thanks to our amazing team of audiologists, patients at STHK have continued to receive an top class, if slightly unorthodox service.
They have gone out of their way to ensure our hearing aid users are getting maximum benefit from their aids by providing non-contact home visits throughout the area.
This has involved collecting faulty hearing aids from doorsteps, window ledges, gate posts, repairing them on the shelf of their vehicles (in blistering heat and thunderstorms!) and dropping them back off immediately.
It has been a lesson in adaptability that has been greatly appreciated by patients and their relatives. Definitely 5 star patient care – well done guys!
