- Trust to feature on national BBC News
- Region placed into Lockdown Tier 3
- Uniform procedures
- Visiting restrictions – end of life care
———————————————————————————
TRUST TO FEATURE ON NATIONAL BBC NEWS
The Trust will feature on national BBC News TONIGHT.
BBC Health Editor, Hugh Pym, has today filmed a special Covid report at Whiston Hospital for broadcast at 6pm and 10pm.
In agreement with NHS England, Hugh was given access to the Trust’s highest level operational meeting known as Gold Command where the current sit rep for the Trust was discussed, as well as filming staff and patients in the Intensive Care Unit.
Rowan Pritchard Jones, Medical Director, was interviewed about the current situation and how the Trust is responding to the increasing pressures. He also discussed escalation plans and appealed to the public to follow national guidance.
Also interviewed were Shirley Pritchard, Lead Nurse ICU and Nadine McStein, Respiratory Ward Manager.
Hugh also spoke to 2 patients, one who was having elective surgery today and another who had tested positive for Covid and had been treated on ICU.
As our local area is placed under the highest restrictions of local lockdown, the message is that we must do all that we can to protect the health of those most at risk of Covid and also those who need our care for other illness.
———————————————————————————-
REGION PLACED INTO LOCKDOWN TIER 3
This afternoon, the Liverpool City Region which includes the communities of Knowsley, St Helen, Halton and Sefton, has been placed in the ‘Very High’ risk Tier 3 of lockdown restrictions.
This means that on top of the current lockdown restrictions, pubs, bars, gyms and leisure centres, betting shops, casinos and adult gaming centres will all close from 5pm on Wednesday 14th October. Retail, schools, colleges and universities will remain open. Only essential travel is permitted outside of the area. Essential travel includes for work or health purposes.
Please follow the local guidance at all times and continue to follow Trust protocols when working within our services and buildings.
———————————————————————————-
UNIFORM PROCEDURES
Please can we remind all staff that the risk of Covid-19 is once again increasing.
Procedures surrounding uniforms are still in place and should continue to be adhered to.
Staff must continue to follow uniform procedures:
- Where possible all staff should travel to and from work in their own clothes and change into uniform at work.
- Uniforms should be removed before leaving the hospital and transported in a separate disposable plastic bag and laundered at home.
- Hospital uniform must not be worn outside the hospital premises unless it is completely covered by a fully fastened coat or outer garment
- Staff travelling on public transport should not travel in hospital uniform
- Staff should not go into shops in hospital uniform
- Staff should not collect children from school in uniform
- All staff undertaking work in community settings should wear hospital uniform when on duty, unless otherwise agreed (e.g. safety reasons)
- Staff wearing uniform on leaving work must change immediately when they get home.
- Uniforms must be laundered as per the Trust laundry policy: Launder daily on a separate wash at the highest temperature available on a domestic washing machine (minimum 60˚C). DO NOT add other clothing items to the load.
Scrubs must only be worn in high risk areas – Do not wear scrubs outside the hospitals
Please wear one set of scrubs per shift and only change if they become soiled.
Scrubs are to be left at the hospitals and cleaned by our laundry service. The process is as follows:
- Place used scrubs in white linen bag
- Put this in disposal hold
- The scrubs are then collected, cleaned and put back into circulation
- Do not leave scrubs on the floor or anywhere else
———————————————————————————
VISITING RESTRICTIONS – END OF LIFE CARE
Visiting continues to be suspended at all our hospitals to keep our patients, visitors and staff safe, with the following exceptions only:
ONE visitor is permitted when visiting a patient receiving end of life care
Whilst we acknowledge that this is an extremely difficult situation and sympathise greatly with the families, it is crucial that we continue to prioritise the safety of everyone and reduce the risk of spreading infection.
Only in exceptional circumstances should more than one person be allowed onto the ward at any one time and this must be arranged with the nurse in charge in advance.
ONE visitor is also permitted for:
- A parent / responsible adult visiting a child
- Supporting a patient with mental health or learning disabilities
- A birthing partner accompanying a woman in labour
All visitors must be agreed with the nurse / midwife in charge of the ward / department
No other visitors are permitted to visit any other ward/department at any time.