Last updated on January 4th, 2022 at 03:32 pm
In today’s update:
- Festive celebrations
– decorations
– parties / gatherings
– donations
FESTIVE CELEBRATIONS
Ahead of what is the festive season for many, it’s important that we cover some questions that are being raised by staff around how we will be able to safely celebrate together.
This is an important time of year for many of our staff and patients, and whilst we wish to celebrate as much as we can, it is vital that safety remains our priority.
We all have a responsibility as healthcare professionals to protect not only ourselves and our patients, but our colleagues as well as our families too.
Decorations
The Trust will once again look to bring some Christmas sparkle to patient areas. As we did last year, this will include window/wall transfers that comply with our infection prevention standards and allow for sufficient cleaning.
We are also still going to have our main trees in the reception areas of our hospitals, and of course our lovely external trees will be in place to brighten the festive season for both staff and patients.
However, once again we must unfortunately state that any other Christmas decorations within any ward or department are not permitted, this includes all clinical and non-clinical areas.
This is because many trees and decorations are simply not able to withstand the cleaning solutions we are required to use to ensure the highest level of infection prevention.
It is also important that surfaces remain clear so that appropriate cleaning can take place and it is difficult to clean behind or beneath Christmas decorations.
Parties / gatherings
The risks of COVID-19 have not reduced, and although many of our staff are vaccinated, the vaccine works to prevent those infected from experiencing serious illness or worse, it does not remove the risk of catching and spreading the virus. There is also an increasing risk of other winter viral infections e.g. flu and norovirus.
With that in mind, and due to the increasing pressures on our hospitals and rising rates in the community, the Trust is strongly discouraging staff from planning/attending group events together.
We all have a professional responsibility to protect not only the patients but ourselves and our colleagues too, and should the virus spread through a service / department it could have a crippling effect on our ability to safely care for patients during the pressured winter months.
This is not something that we would ever have wished to ask of our staff, we know how important it is for staff to relax and celebrate especially after the tough couple of years we have all experienced, but we must continue to do all that we can to protect each other and ensure everyone’s safety.
Donations
Any donations into the Trust should be arranged through the Charity Team to ensure the correct periods of quarantine are followed. The team will ensure that the donations are shared as fairly as possible once the goods are safe to be distributed. If you receive any contact from companies or members of the public wishing to donate goods / food to staff or patients, then please direct them to claire.simmo@sthk.nhs.uk or ask them to call 0151 478 7568.