Care Provider Covid-19 Newsletter

February 2023

Adult Social Care

Goodbye

As we have slowly moved back to business as usual, and Covid-19 is starting to be encompassed with all other respiratory infections and managers now have the autonomy to manage outbreaks within their own homes. I am pleased but sadden to say this will be my last edition of the newsletter.

So, I thought I would take this opportunity to say goodbye and what an experience it has been. There have been many highs and lows over the last two and a half years. But I can honestly say it has been an absolute pleasure to work with you all. And I hope you all feel empowered to be able to deal with whatever infection comes your way.

Finally, I must say you have all been such a credit to your profession.

Wishing you all the very best

Sally Williamson (Senior IPC Officer)

Guidance

No updates since 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
• Managing healthcare staff with symptoms of a respiratory infection or a positive COVID-19 test result - link

Update from UKHSA

Covid/guidance update:

Epidemiological Overview

Flu outbreaks declining, whilst COVID-19 outbreaks in care settings are beginning to increase again. There has also been a slight increase in hospitalisations and deaths in care home residents.

There tends to be new waves every six weeks, but this is just a trajectory regarding new cases, and this is not currently something UKHSA epidemiologists are concerned about.
 

C-19 Therapeutics

A new digital capture system is expected to identify further clinically vulnerable individuals eligible for COVID-19 therapeutics. This is not a change in the groups who are eligible, but it is an improved means of identifying those who are already eligible.
 

Care setting guidance changes

We are expecting some guidance changes on or soon after 1st April
The following existing three policy /guidance documents will be amalgamated into one document.

• COVID-19 supplement to the infection prevention and control resource for adult social care - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• COVID-19 testing in adult social care - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• COVID-19 PPE guide for adult social care services and settings - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

In addition, there is expected to be a step down in approach at that time, although exactly what these changes in practice will be is not yet finalised.

• There may be a step down in outbreak testing for COVID-19 in care homes
• There maybe a move to managing COVID-19 as we would for any other acute respiratory infection in care settings

Ultimately, the COVID-19 guidance is likely to be merged with the Influenza like illness in care homes guidance, but this will not happen until a later stage.
 
There is also national work in progress looking into multiplex LFD tests ie. point of care tests for COVID-19 AND FLU and possibly other respiratory pathogens too.
 
I am pleased to hear that a document will also be published which describes the evidence behind the policy changes.

There is still time to Spread the Love this winter and not Covid-19 or Flu, so get vaccinated and boost your winter protection

Bath and North East Somerset Council are operating a roving vaccination model, to Bath central care homes and can offer 1^st and 2^nd doses for Covid and the Flu vaccination during March. So, if you are aware of a staff member who cannot get to a clinic, or a group of people/staff that need their vaccines.

Please contact ASC Commissioning at ASC_Commissioning@BATHNES.GOV.UK for further information.

Cold weather toolkit and plan

As the cold spell is still with us, are weather ready? 

If not please see attachments for helping you prepare and cope with severe weather. Or visit www.metoffice.gov.uk/WeatherReady

Message to Managers from UKHSA

Dear Care Managers
 
The UKHSA SW Health Protection Team would like to take this opportunity to give all adult social care settings a few reminders to help you through the winter
 

1. Norovirus cases increase significantly in England - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk))

2. Circulation of COVID-19, Flu and other acute respiratory viruses

3. Infection Prevention and Control

4. Test kits

5. When to contact SW Health Protection Team (HPT) Tel:  0300 303 8162 (24/7 for emergencies)  Email: swhpt@ukhsa.gov.uk (monitored working hours only)

• A new outbreak – we usually ask you to ring us for a new outbreak.  However, if you are entirely confident in the management of the outbreak then you can email us at swhpt@ukhsa.gov.uk
• You have a large increase in the number of cases in an ongoing outbreak – call 0300 303 8162  (you do not need to inform us of a trickle of new cases unless you need our assistance or advice)
• ANY of your residents or staff members are hospitalised or die due to suspected or confirmed Flu or COVID-19
      (if you don’t need any assistance or advice, please email swhpt@ukhsa.gov.uk making sure you say that this is for information only;
      if you need assistance or advice – call 0300 303 8162)
• You have difficulty in applying the relevant control measures – Call 0300 303 8162

6. Key Guidance

• COVID-19 specific IPC guidance the ‘COVID Supplement’:  COVID-19 supplement to the infection prevention and control resource for adult social care - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• Testing guidance: COVID-19 testing in adult social care - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• General IPC guidance for Adult Social Care settings https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/infection-prevention-and-control-in-adult-social-care-settings

• Checklist of Actions for Acute Respiratory Infections in Care Settings (click on link; also attached to this email)
• Quick Guide to Flu and COVID-19  (a shorter quick reference guide to the Checklist above)  (attached)
• UKHSA Care Home and Residential Care Guidance - South West Councils (swcouncils.gov.uk)

7. Acute Respiratory Infection Resources (by topic)

How was Covid-19 managed in Care Homes?

Bath and North East Somerset Council 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

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.

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.

Staff Health and Wellbeing

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.

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/

Wellbeing Resources

• BSW Wellbeing Matters Service

• Live Well B&NES

• Samaritans

• Hospice UK bereavement and trauma line

• Our Frontline

• Bath and North East Somerset Community Wellbeing Hub