Can we please remind staff to follow the Government’s guidance regarding social distancing.
While we appreciate that maintaining a safe distance of 2m is not possible in clinical situations it’s really important that where you can eg. when arriving at work, walking from the car park, when on breaks etc. you remember to stay apart. This is for your own safety as well as others.
Today’s update is below:
PPE
The Trust has today taken a delivery of 5000 visors with a further 2000 expected tomorrow.
Changing facilities
As part of the COVID-19 response we have created a central temporary staff changing room in the Therapy Suite, Level One at Whiston hospital. This is now operational and there are signs to direct staff.
All Staff working in clinical areas at Whiston Hospital can now change out of their own clothes and into their workwear on site.
Lockers are available to safely store belongings – the changing rooms will be staffed between 6.30am and 9.30pm and the staff will allocate locker keys and scrubs to those who need them.
When staff change out of their scrubs these will be collected in the changing room and put into the laundry service.
We have also made temporary arrangements for staff to be able to have normal uniforms laundered. Further information explaining the uniform laundry process and turnaround times are available from the staff based in the staff changing area
Break out /Rest areas for staff.
To support the wellbeing of staff we have created a number of break out/rest areas to enable staff to take a break from the work area and maintain social distancing:
- Level 5 the vending area – now has soft seating to provide a more relaxed setting
- Level 3 Medical Photography – (the clinical teams already have access) settees
- LG1 on-call accommodation – a room with recliner seating has been provided the key is available from reception.
All areas allow for social distancing to be met, please can staff abide by this to protect themselves and the patients.
The Junior Doctors mess is available as normal
Uniform – Can we remind all staff of the following:
- 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.
- All staff undertaking work in community settings should wear hospital uniform when on duty, unless otherwise agreed (eg. 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 and cohort 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:
- Put the scrubs in a red alginate bag and tie the top
- Put the red bag inside in a white plastic linen bag and tie the top
- 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
Swab packs
Due to national shortages the latest stock of swab packs contain 1 swab only
This is a single viral swab used for throat then nose then put into the transport pot
Staff Testing
Staff are reminded to contact the Trust as soon as they, or a member of their household, becomes unwell
The Trust has a fast staff testing process in place that is running 7 days a week:
- Staff member or Line Manager completes a self-isolation form for staff member and/or family member
- This is triaged within 24 hours
- Test (where aprropriate) will be offered the same or next day
- Results returned within 48 hours and communicated with individuals and where appropriate Line Managers
Patient Wi-Fi
Patient Wi-Fi has now been improved to support video calling from their own devices.
The patient simply logs on as they would for any other wi-fi network, eg home broadband:
Search for network: HermesGuest Input Password: WhistonWifiPatient
Please Note: this is not for staff to access. Free NHS wi-fi is still available for staff
Headsets for Skype calls and Telehealth
Due to national shortage of telephone headsets can we ask staff who are working from home to, where required and where possible, use their own headsets for skype calls.
For Telehealth consultations, where headsets are not available, please be mindful of patient confidentiality when having conversations in an office or consulting room
#HiddenHospitalHeroes
They might not wear capes but our porters are heroes!
In these challenging times they’re helping us all to keep going, working night and day to deliver vital support to clinical and non-clinical teams.
Thank you all for your commitment and sense of humour we really appreciate it!
Just some of the portering team are below (we’re sorry we couldn’t photograph you all)
