Welcome to our April 2021 Bulletin
Our bulletin this month is crammed full with the latest useful information, resources, and research. And don't forget to renew your Network membership now to take advantage of our early-bird...
Please see the latest research: Antibody Status and Incidence of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Healthcare Workers – including participation by our Network Members at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Check out how our Network colleagues at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation have used social media to explain to staff the relevance of different antibody test results:
Positive Test: https://youtu.be/yiRgyv19nOg
Indeterminate Test: https://youtu.be/JdmxJP88IWs
Negative Test: https://youtu.be/Gq1Y-6GvADI
Thanks to our Network colleagues Helen Parsons and the team at King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust for sharing their risk assessment document for staff in any higher risk group or disproportionately affected by Covid-19. This document is intended for line managers to use and make local decisions, with additional advice and input from OH on request.
The ONS have published their latest statistical report detailing covid-related deaths by occupation in England and Wales for deaths regsitered up to an including 20 April 2020.
Thanks to our Network colleagues Dr. Blandina Blackburn and the team at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust who have developed a protocol (flowchart) for Covid-19 Testing of Asymptomatic Healthcare Workers.
Published online in the Lancet this week, introduced by our colleagues, and one of the authors, Dr Elizabeth Murphy, Occupational Health Consultant at Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust, who writes:
“Newcastle University and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust research, led by Dr Chris Duncan shows that the rate of infection for frontline clinical NHS staff is no higher than for those in non-clinical roles. It also shows that screening of symptomatic NHS staff including some GP practice staff has allowed staff to return to work sooner. The screening programme involved email communication with OHS and swabbing by a team of screening staff deployed by the Trust. Results were processed by the laboratory team working 24 hours per day and emailed to the employees by OHS. The rapidly changing profile of symptoms and assessments required a fast and flexible approach to the programme and essential clear communication strategies.”
You can view the article here.
Take a look at some case studies on how our NHS OH teams are supporting their Trusts in the fight against Covid-19.
The London Nightingale Hospital have developed a staff support plan.
Frontline healthcare staff working in the current pandemic are likely to face a range of stressors including traumatic exposure, moral injury, workplace stress and home pressures. The currently ‘unprecedented’ circumstances also come at a time when NHS teams are already stretched. This plan outlines the support that the Nightingale will put in place to support staff carrying out vital but challenging duties. Feel free to utilise and adapt this Nightingale Hospital Mental Health Team Standard Operating Procedure.
The Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust have adopted a clinical governance system designed to ensure that staff and managers all receive the crucial information they need in helping to manage Covid-19.
General Enquiries Sheet 1 - Admin Use
Extremely Vulnerable Group Information Sheet 2 - Admin Use
Pregnant and Worried Advice Sheet 3 - Admin Use
Asthmatic and Worried Advice Sheet 4 - Admin Use
Flow Chart Managing Decision Letters for Manager
Risk Assessment Vulnerable Staff
Covid-19 - Letter - Vulnerable employees - for managers
Thanks to our Network colleagues at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for sharing their Advice/Guidance sheet for vulnerable staff and their local risk assessment for Covid-19.
Thanks to our colleagues at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for sharing their Individual Staff Risk Assessment Checklist for Covid-19.
Thanks to our colleagues at East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust for sharing their Testing for Covid-19 SOP.
Our bulletin this month is crammed full with the latest useful information, resources, and research. And don't forget to renew your Network membership now to take advantage of our early-bird...
Important information regarding our conference on March 10, renewing your Network membership, and much more...
Network Members - register your place for our 10 March virtual conference; MoHaWK update; and the latest long-covid guidance