Today’s staff update is below:
- Rapid Testing
- Patient telephone consultations – number prefix to remove ‘no caller ID’
- NHS Covid Heroes
RAPID TESTING
Rapid testing for COVID-19 is no longer available as a routine due to diminished supply of testing kits available to the Trust. There are only 10 rapid tests per day available for use for the Trust as a whole. This is due to kits being diverted to other countries with current high incidence of COVID-19. Extremely exceptional requests (i.e. where the result will make an immediate and significant difference to patient management compared with routine non-rapid testing of which results are available within 24 hours), must be discussed on a case by case basis with a Medical Microbiologist. Note: exceptions do NOT include requests for rapid testing to facilitate same day discharge to care home or with domiciliary care; to determine ward/bed space placement of new admissions or pre-operative testing.
Non-rapid testing is done at the Microbiology Laboratory at Whiston and the turnaround time for results is within 24 hours of the receipt of sample in the laboratory.
PATIENT TELEPHONE CONSULTATIONS – NUMBER PREFIX TO REMOVE ‘NO CALLER ID’
As more consultations take place via telephone, a recurring problem is that patients are not answering the call due to hospital telephone numbers appearing as ‘no caller ID’ on the screen.
In order to reduce the number of unanswered calls, staff are advised to dial the below prefix before the patient’s telephone number:
91470
e.g. If you were calling switchboard you would dial:
91470 0151 426 1600
This removes the ‘no caller ID’ message on their phones and will hopefully mean patients are more likely to answer and complete their appointment.
NHS COVID HEROES
The Emergency Department
No amount of emergency planning or winter crisis training could prepare this team for what they were to face at the height of the pandemic.
They have cared for desperately ill patients requiring the highest levels of acute care, aiding many on their first steps to recovery. But they have also provided compassionate palliative care to those who were sadly unable to pull through.
Since the 13th March when the Trust recorded its first covid positive patient, over 36,000 patients have attended the department for a wide range of reasons.
The safety of everyone has been paramount and this team has provided an exceptional service in extremely difficult circumstances.
They’ve not only been there to protect and comfort their patients, they’ve also been there for each other with their unique character and energy getting them through the toughest times.
Emergency Department, we thank you, you make us proud each and every day.
