In today’s update:
- Rapid rise in COVID-19 cases
- Patient Screening
- PPE
RAPID RISE IN COVID-19 CASES
The Trust is experiencing a considerable increase in patients with COVID-19 and other respiratory infections.
All patients with respiratory symptoms must be screened immediately and placed in isolation.
Staff MUST wear a standard full set of PPE (i.e. type IIR surgical mask, gloves, apron plus if there is significant risk of exposure to bodily fluids eye protection) when caring for any patient with any suspected or confirmed respiratory infection (including COVID-19)
PATIENT SCREENING
All patients with respiratory symptoms must be tested and placed into isolation.
There is no longer a requirement to test all asymptomatic patients requiring inpatient admission (i.e. at least admission overnight) for COVID-19 except for the following groups of patients who must still be tested for COVID-19 on admission even if they are asymptomatic:
- Any immunocompromised* patients requiring inpatient admission, to be tested on admission.
- Any immunocompromised* patients requiring transfer between inpatient wards – to be screened by the receiving ward.
- All inpatient admissions to wards 2A, 4D and 4E on admission to those wards (patient do not need to await a COVID result before being admitted into these areas).
*Definition of immunocompromised is below (note that this is not an exhaustive list, further details are available at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/655225/Greenbook_chapter_6.pdf
PPE
Full details of the current PPE guidance can be found at What to wear and when – STHK COVID-19 Guidance
ALL Staff MUST wear type IIR surgical masks when:
- Providing direct clinical care to untriaged patients in areas where potential for respiratory infection is high
(specifically Emergency Department including SDEC, AMU, 5C, Bevan Court 1 Ambulatory Care, Urgent Treatment Centre, as well as first home visit by Community Services staff)
- Providing direct clinical care to any patients on Ward 2A (including Satchi Suite) and Lilac Centre (as these patients are more likely to be highly vulnerable to respiratory infections including COVID-19)
Providing direct patient care – not carrying out an aerosol generating procedure:
There is no longer a requirement to wear a full set of standard PPE when providing direct clinical care (i.e. within 2m) of any patient. However,
- Staff MUST wear a standard full set of PPE (i.e. type IIR surgical mask, gloves, apron plus if there is significant risk of exposure to bodily fluids eye protection) when caring for any patient with any suspected or confirmed respiratory infection (including COVID-19)
- Staff MUST wear gloves and apron when caring for any patient without suspected or confirmed respiratory infection but with non-respiratory cross infection hazards requiring contact precautions (e.g. MRSA/CDI/VRE/CPE)
Aerosol generating procedures (AGPs):
- When carrying out AGPs on patients with any suspected or confirmed respiratory infection, staff MUST continue to wear an FFP3 mask, visor, gloves and long sleeved fluid repellent gown
- When carrying out AGPs on patients without a suspected or confirmed respiratory infection, staff MUST wear: FFP3 mask, visor, gloves and apron. In such patients, a long sleeved gown is required only if there is significant risk of exposure to bodily fluids
For staff who wish to continue to wear masks, based on personal preference or their individual Health Work and Wellbeing risk assessment, in scenarios other than those detailed in the PPE guidance, type IIR surgical masks will continue to be available in all clinical and non-clinical areas.