Key updates:
Shielding paused from today
Please head here for updated guidance on supporting our shielding colleagues following the government's announcement that shielding will be paused from today (1 April). The guidance covers what will happen next if you have been shielding and the measures we are putting in place for you. We are not expecting an immediate return to work, but to first create an individual, safe and workable plan with your manager.
Public vaccination update
It’s been widely reported that there’s a national reduction in Covid vaccine supplies for the next few weeks. Our Joined Up Care Derbyshire (JUCD) community is still able to concentrate on vaccinating anyone over-50 who has not yet booked their jab, and to begin to give second doses to the high priority groups from mid-April. While vaccine supplies are temporarily more limited, we won’t be opening our DCHS-led vaccination centre at Derby Arena again until 12 April and that will be for second doses only; however the GP-led local vaccination service remains open on the same site. The latest report on the Derbyshire vaccination programme is here .
Staff vaccinations
For the past couple of weeks we’ve been able to offer vaccinations to all DCHS staff, regardless of age or whether patient-facing or not. We are pleased that many of you took up the offer and booked your appointments before last Sunday. As you’ll have read above, we don’t have such plentiful vaccine supplies for the next few weeks and our Arena vaccination centre is temporarily paused so we are unable to book you in for any further first-time appointments just yet. However, if you missed out on taking up the offer of a first jab because you were waiting to be Covid-free, or for another specific clinical reason, please contact jo.hunter1@nhs.net to see what can be arranged for you.
Please stick to your second dose appointment
Second dose appointments for staff are unaffected by the temporary reduction in supply and it's really important that you do all you can to stick to your planned booking and avoid rearranging it. This is particularly the case if you were given the Pfizer vaccine in order to minimise waste. If you haven’t already got a date for the second dose of your vaccination then please wait to be contacted by the site where you received your first dose. If for any reason you haven’t been contacted by week 11 then please get in touch with jo.hunter1@nhs.net.
Fertility and Covid-19 vaccines – Q&A session on 6 April
Next Tuesday 6 April at 5pm you’re invited to join a Q&A with an external specialist on fertility, pregnancy and breastfeeding in relation to the Covid-19 vaccine. Here’s the Microsoft Teams link to join the meeting: https://bit.ly/3rqa7Pk. Please email robertsteel1@nhs.net if you intend to join the discussion so we have some idea of numbers, or if you’d like to receive a calendar invitation.
RCN and HSJ awards open for entries:
With 24 categories in this year's HSJ awards and 15 in the RCN nursing awards there’s plenty of scope for our fabulous teams and individuals who really stood out during the past 12 months. The RCN awards are open to nurses, health visitors, nursing students and nursing support workers. You don’t need to be an RCN member to enter and there is no limit on the number of categories in which you can apply. Visit rcn-nursing-awards.co.uk for more information. You have until 30 April.
The HSJ awards also opened for entries this week with a commitment to “help boost morale by recognising as many NHS teams as possible for their amazing efforts, going above and beyond to preserve thousands of lives during the pandemic year.” Details here: Award Categories 2021 | HSJ Awards. Entries close on 4 June.
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Patient facing colleagues:
- Guidance for visits to inpatient wards: We continue to follow our designated visitor guidance which facilitates compassionate visiting. IP&C processes are followed including supporting relatives with hand hygiene, use of masks etc. We will not, at this time, be initiating lateral flow testing for those visiting end-of-life patients in the last few days of life.
- Learning from outbreaks: A handy new poster and guide has been developed to help us learn the lessons from Covid-19 outbreaks in our services. It covers tips on break times, car sharing and ventilation.
- Aspirant BAME nursing leaders initiative – closing date 6 April: This new initiative supports aspiring nursing leaders from a Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) background. Download the information pack here. Closing date for applications is 9am Tuesday 6 April.
- LFT testing protocol: You must provide evidence of a negative lateral flow test (LFT) result undertaken within the last 72 hours when visiting a care home, or you will be refused access. This may mean undertaking more regular LFTs than you currently do. Full guidance is here along with our local protocol which can be downloaded here.
- SOPs: Our standard operating procedure (SOP) for inpatients, outpatients and urgent treatment centres was last updated on 11 March. Click here to download that and all other available SOPs.
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Reminders:
- Easing of lockdown restrictions: The start of this week (29 March) marked the first easing of lockdown restrictions in England. Many of us have been waiting eagerly to be able to spend time with friends and family again, but please remember to follow the 'Hands, Face, Space' guidance. We must all continue to be patient, however hard it is, and follow the rules put in place in order to stop Covid-19 cases rising. You can read about the different steps in the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown here.
- Staff transfer scheme: There are lots of reasons why this optional staff transfer scheme could work for you. For a quick overview just read this poster, and for full details check out this guidance.
- Women’s safety and domestic abuse during Covid-19: Download this letter for a huge range of helpful information on the signs of domestic abuse, associated public information and how to access help.
- Pre-election guidance: National guidance for NHS organisations for the pre-election period is available here to cover the run up to the local elections on Thursday 6 May. If you need advice about any communications or engagement activity that you are planning before 6 May, contact: dchst.communications@nhs.net
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Wellbeing:
- Financial Wellbeing workshop: In this insightful and enjoyable session delivered by Chris Hughes from The Hughes Company you'll get some great tips and techniques on how to make the most of your money and deal with any challenges you may face. Although there's no magic fix to all financial challenges, it's a great tonic to help make the best of the situations we all face. Get your own practical steps and tips by tuning in here.
We have also partnered with the Money Advice Service to develop a financial wellbeing offer open to all health and social care staff. It includes a free, confidential support line (phone, text or web chat) and a series of video resources.
- Spirituality and faith workshop - 16 April: This workshop is part of our multi-day virtual equality, diversity, and inclusion equalities conference themed 'Delivering on Inclusion @DCHS'. It is intended to be a practical and interactive workshop that we hope will enhance wellbeing by focusing on our own spiritual needs and those of others in our lives/work. It takes place on Friday 16 April from 2:00-3:30pm. If you’d like to register please click here.
- Our next Schwartz Round: 'When you can’t make the work day stop', on Tuesday 27 April at 1pm, Read more here, and for more information and the link to join please contact Ruth Bailey, staff wellbeing officer, at: Ruth.Bailey8@nhs.net
- Yoga with Ruth: Why not have a try at one of our ‘yoga with Ruth’ sessions, available now on our YouTube channel.
- Wellbeing calendar of events and opportunities: We’ve got a host of brilliant events, development sessions and more on this page, including personal power, beating burnout and financial wellbeing.
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If you want us to cover any specific topics please let us know. It’s important we continue to work collectively to shape our comms so we get the most from it. Tell us more here: dchst.communications@nhs.net
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Many thanks
Issued on behalf of
William Jones
Chief Operating Officer & Accountable Emergency Officer
Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS FT
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