Care Provider Covid-19 Newsletter
January 2023
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Attachments for this bulletin are available for download online
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Message from BSW’s Directors of Public Health
Since my message to you on Friday 13th January advising care settings to continue to recommend mask wearing at all times in light of the significant increase in respiratory illnesses, the rates of such illnesses have fallen. Therefore Directors of Public Health across Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire are advising that from 31st January care settings return to following the national guidance which recommends the wearing of face mask in particular circumstances.
Thank you for your continued efforts to protect residents from infectious diseases. We know that following best practice in the wearing of face masks alongside other elements of control for the prevention of infection such as hand hygiene and environmental cleaning, has had a significant impact on the reduction of respiratory viruses across all settings. Therefore, we would encourage this best practice to continue, to protect our patients, residents and the service users as well as our colleagues working in these settings. We would also strongly encourage those staff and residents that are eligible to have their Covid-19 boosters and their flu vaccine. It is not too late to be vaccinated.
Thank you
Becky
Becky Reynolds, FFPH
Director of Public Health and Prevention
Bath and North East Somerset Council
Keynsham Civic Centre
Market Walk
Keynsham BS31 1FS
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Guidance
Last updated 23rd December 2022
Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing for adult social care services – link
COVID-19 supplement to the infection prevention and control resource for adult social care link
Please see below for a summary of changes:
Face masks
Now risk based wearing of face masks instead of mandatory wearing at all times.
Wear if – caring for COVID case
- Staff member is household or overnight contact of a case
- Care setting is in outbreak
Also consider wearing - if the care recipient is particularly vulnerable to infection
- An event or gathering is at particularly high risk of transmission
Recognition that mask wearing may be distressing for some – risk assess their use and mitigate risks
More autonomy for all care settings in assessing and managing their own outbreaks
Guidance wording has changed so that care settings are able to risk assess whether they have unlinked cases or an outbreak, including a short guide to whether cases are likely to be linked to transmission in the setting or not. The guidance now explicitly says that they should not wait for HPT input to begin basic outbreak control measures and the wording for outbreak measures is much more risk-centred e.g. recommending proportionate reductions in communal activities, visiting, new admissions.
It still says though, that all outbreaks should be reported to the HPT.
Clusters
The word “cluster” has been taken out of the national guidance altogether.
However, the SW HPT care programme team’s view is that there is still a place for declaring a likely cluster as opposed to an outbreak i.e. in the grey area between definitely unlinked cases and where transmission in the setting is highly likely. Then we advise two rounds of outbreak testing (all staff and resident LFD and PCR) plus rapid response LFD testing for staff and if all negative, lift outbreak restrictions.
Small care homes
For care homes with 10 or fewer residents there is a change in the Testing guidance. Evidence shows that spread amongst residents in small household type environments is likely to be swift and also that these settings tend to house less vulnerable, younger people. Therefore, the new recommendation is to assess the appropriateness of rapid response outbreak testing and NOT to do recovery testing at all. Outbreak measures can be lifted once all those affected are out of their isolation periods.
Managing healthcare staff with symptoms of a respiratory infection or a positive COVID-19 test result link
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Cold weather toolkit and plan
With the cold spell back with us, are you weather ready?
Please see attachments for helping you prepare and cope with severe weather. Or visit www.metoffice.gov.uk/WeatherReady
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Spread the love this winter…not Covid-19 or Flu, there is still time to get vaccinated and boost your winter protection
There is evidence to show that if you get flu and COVID-19 at the same time you are at higher risk of becoming seriously unwell. As this is the first winter since COVID-19 emerged without restrictions in place, the best way to protect yourself from getting unwell from either is to get vaccinated.
At Bath and North East Somerset we are urging all eligible people to get vaccinated as soon as possible to boost their protection against these viruses, which also helps to protect others and the NHS.
To help you do this BANES are offering walk-in Clinics at:
Bath City FC, Twerton Park,
(11am-5pm)
Monday 13 February*#
Monday 20 February*
Monday 27 February
Salvation Army, Bath Citadel
(11am-5pm)
Thursday 2 February
Thursday 9 February
Thursday 16 February#
Thursday 23 February
Mulberry Hub, Mulberry Way
(11am-5pm)
Monday 13 February*#
Monday 20 February
The clinics are open for Covid vaccinations to anyone aged 5+
*The clinic is only open to those aged 5-11 between 3-5pm
# During half-term, clinics are also open from 11am-5pm for 5-11 year olds
- Vaccinations are free
- You don’t need proof of address
- You do not need your NHS number
- Your details will not be shared with immigration
Please see the attached posters and flyers for more details and information.
BANES are also operating a roving vaccination model, in some areas, if there is someone who cannot get to a clinic, or a group of people that need vaccines. We can see if a special visit can be arranged for them.
Please contact ASC Commissioning at ASC_Commissioning@BATHNES.GOV.UK for further information.
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Other ways to get your vaccinations
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Flu
All frontline care colleagues are urged to book their appointments and keep themselves, their colleagues and those they care, for safe, well and protected as winter approaches.
Claire Armstrong, Director of Adult Social Care Delivery and Covid-19 Response, Department of Health and Social Care, wrote to care providers in August, explaining the importance of vaccine uptake for both COVID-19 and flu jabs.
To help promote the benefits of vaccination to colleagues, visit the Campaign Resource Centre, where you’ll find Q&A leaflets, posters, social media content and stickers, all free to download and share.
Flu vaccination is important because:
- while flu is unpleasant for most people, it can be dangerous and even life threatening for some people, particularly those with certain health conditions
- more people are likely to get flu this winter as fewer people will have built up natural immunity to it during the COVID-19 pandemic
- if you get flu and COVID-19 at the same time, research shows you're more likely to be seriously ill
Who can have the flu vaccine?
Check eligibility here
Where to get the flu vaccine
You can have the NHS flu vaccine at:
- your GP surgery
- a pharmacy offering the service – if you're aged 18 or over
- some maternity services if you're pregnant
Sometimes, you might be offered the flu vaccine at a hospital appointment.
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Covid
There's still time to grab your first, second or booster doses. Anyone who is eligible can book their vaccination appointment online (new appointments are added frequently) or find a walk-in clinic on the NHS website. You need to be registered with a GP (or call 119) to book online. You do not need to book or be registered with a GP to use a walk-in clinic.
Check your eligibility here for 1st and 2nd Covid-19 vaccination and here for the Covid 19 booster vaccination.
Information about Covid-19 vaccinations
If you have any queries about the Covid-19 vaccination please check the frequently asked questions section of the NHS Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire ICB website, which is being refreshed and updated regularly. https://bsw.icb.nhs.uk/news-and-events/live-covid-19/
‘Grab a Cab’
‘Grab a Cab’ is open to anyone living in Bath and North East Somerset who is having difficulties getting to a COVID-19 vaccination site. The ‘Grab a Cab’ initiative means residents can now hire a free taxi to get to their vaccination appointment.
To use the service, the COVID-19 vaccination must be pre-booked and the service user will need to show evidence of the appointment to the taxi driver. Evidence can include a screenshot on a mobile phone or tablet, or a printout.
To book the taxi, the person will need to call V-Cars on 01225 46 46 46 and say they would like to book a taxi to a vaccination site on account quoting:
- Account number: BA-TTV 01
- Account name: Grab a Cab
- Password: Vaccination site
Once the taxi is booked, the taxi driver will pick the person up and take them to their appointment. Please be aware that the return journey must be within an hour of the appointment time.
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Infection Prevention & Control and Winter Readiness Toolkit
As part of the process of helping you prepare for winter UKHSA has updated their Infection Prevention & Control and Winter Readiness Toolkit, (please find the link below).
Please take the time to visit the website as the tool kit focuses on seasonal respiratory and gastrointestinal infections and does cover the whole remit of infections seen in these settings. It is designed to help managers and staff in care homes and other residential care settings with the planning and preparation for winter infections and outbreaks, and in outbreak recognition and management.
The resources are quick-reference documents, designed to be used as needed for your setting, by staff, residents and visitors.
The toolkit complements the national guidance documents on the following websites:
In addition, there are a wealth of other resources and web links on the web sites of the various professional health and social care organisations.
UKHSA Infection Prevention and Control and Winter Readiness - South West Councils (swcouncils.gov.uk)
As part of being ready for winter you need to ensure you have enough tests, so please ensure you always have the following available:
- C-19 PCR kits at least enough for one complete round of whole home testing
- C-19 LFD kits – at least enough for one complete round of whole home testing (in response to OB) and enough for a few days of serial staff testing (in response to OB and/ or single case) and enough LFD kits for testing any symptomatic residents.
Test kits can be pre-ordered via the online portal.
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How was Covid-19 managed in Care Homes?
BANES is working with the University of Bristol and looking at how Covid-19 was managed in Care Homes please see the information below and the info sheet attached for staff. We would be grateful if any care home would like to participate.
Dr. Jon Banks and Dr. Selin Sivis are researchers from the University of Bristol and wanted to let you know about a research study that is being conducted to look at how COVID was managed in care homes during the pandemic.
We are recruiting care homes to take part in the study and ask that you would consider participating. We attach an information sheet with full details about what is involved and give a summary below.
The study is being conducted to enable an understanding of how care homes might be able to manage in similar crises and pandemics in the future, to look at both challenges and successes. We would like to stress that it is not an audit of practice. All care homes and individual participants will be fully anonymised in study reports and papers.
Taking part will involve members of staff (possibly including yourself) and residents talking to a researcher one to one so we can get a detailed picture of life in a care home during the pandemic. We are asking for your help in facilitating the research by identifying residents and care staff who have been present during the pandemic and providing them with information about our study. We will provide full information and take informed consent prior to the interview taking place.
The interviews will discuss how care was managed during the pandemic and the factors that helped or hindered care during this time. Participants' identity and the identity of the care home will be kept anonymous in all research reports and publications. Each participant will receive a £20 general shopping voucher as reimbursement for their time to participate.
Please read the attached information sheet and if you think you may be able to participate or, if you have further questions, then please contact us by replying to this email or ringing the phone numbers below.
Research team:
Dr. Jon Banks - Jon.Banks@Bristol.ac.uk - 0117 455 5971
Dr. Selin Sivis - selin.sivis@bristol.ac.uk - 0748 137 8887
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Safeguarding training
Safeguarding Training is also available and details of how to join can be found on the link Bath & North East Somerset Community Safety and Safeguarding Partnership website.
Managers will need to create an account as detailed in the attached booking guide which can be found on the safeguarding training section.
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Lost property following discharge
We have listened to the Care Home managers concerns about the discharge’s from the RUH and issues around missing items; We have worked with the RUH and have organised a plan for RUH to support care homes following discharge. To be used for those discharged within the last 48 hours.
The plan will be two numbers, unfortunately it isn’t possible to cover with one number. They are:
In hours - 9-4 Mon-Friday will be the discharge team admin – 01225 825698. The admin team will take the calls and allocate the task to a DLN on duty who will then follow up, action and liaise with the home.
Out of Hours - Clinical Site team 07766 498314. If the issue isn’t immediately urgent and the task can wait until the morning, this will be handed over to the DLN team. If urgent the CSM team will action.
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Mental Health Campaign – Lift someone out of loneliness
Feeling lonely is something that all of us can experience at any point and it can have a huge impact on our wellbeing. It’s important to remember that these feelings can pass and that there are lots of ways we can help each other too.
Fancy a cuppa? Fancy a walk? Sometimes reaching out to each other with as little as three words can make a big difference.
As part of the Better Health: Every Mind Matters campaign, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport are encouraging people to ‘Lift Someone Out of Loneliness’ by taking a simple action to help someone who may be feeling lonely. If we do this regularly, we can all help to lift each other up.
Find out how you can help to lift someone out of loneliness.
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Looking after your wellbeing
With the ongoing pressures we are facing to deliver critical services, we would like to remind you that help and support is available for health and social care staff in Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire (BSW).
The BSW Wellbeing Matters team can provide direct access to psychologists and registered mental health clinicians who will use their expertise to help you access support. The BSW Wellbeing Matters Team provides consultation, advice and support to individuals and teams and can help services think about the wellbeing of their staff and offer advice and support as appropriate.
To contact the team to request support, please call 0800 953 9003 and leave a message on the answer phone or alternatively by email - awp.bswwellbeinghub@nhs.net
To find out more about the BSW Wellbeing Matters service visit: http://www.awp.nhs.uk/advice-support/bsw-wellbeing-matters/
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ASC_Commissioning@bathnes.gov.uk
Lewis House, Manvers Street, Bath, BA1 1JQ
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