COVID-19 UPDATE BRIEFING DDLMC – 15.05.2020
STOP PRESS
Death Announcement at UHDB.
“We are very saddened to hear the news of the death of Norman Austria, a Healthcare Assistant at UHDB, who sadly passed away on Wednesday after many weeks battling Covid-19 at Royal Derby Hospital.
Norman was from the Philippines and although new to the Trust was already becoming a highly thought of and valued member of the team on Ward 405. Norman brought an air of calm with him and quickly became a loved and respected member of the team. He will be remembered fondly by colleagues, often singing to patients who responded positively to his presence. Norman’s memory will live on in the song ‘You are my sunshine’, a favourite of Norman’s that he could often be heard singing to calm and reassure the most vulnerable patients. His colleagues knew him as a gentle soul and a dedicated professional.
Gavin Boyle, UHDB Chief Executive said that whilst colleagues did not get to work with Norman for very long, he epitomised the Trust values and consistently demonstrated care and compassion towards his patients. Nothing was too much trouble, he was always happy to make time to chat with his patients. The team on Ward 405 were all blessed to know him and to call him a colleague and a friend. Norman’s energy and smile will be sadly missed by the whole ward and the wider team. He is a great loss to the ward, the speciality and the Trust and our thoughts are with Norman’s family at this sad time.”
JOINT DDLMC/ GPA / GPTF / DCHS COVID RESPONSE TEAM
PPE and CPR. The Derbyshire GP Leadership has now finalized an agreed approach to PPE and CPR in the context of general practice (Attachment A).
Care Homes, Frailty, PCN DES and Place. Firstly, an apology. In yesterday’s special FAQs I stated: “If you do nothing you will be assumed to wish to remain in the DES”. That is incorrect and you need to notify the CCG of your intentions. Many practices/PCNs have already done so through the return that the CCG requested.
Secondly, I think it is safe to say the NHSE announcement today in the Daily Update (and the letter at Attachment B) has caused some further confusion “The majority of areas now have a clinical lead for their care homes. However, we know there are still some questions about this, and we wanted to specifically clarify the role of the clinical lead. The clinical lead is not medically responsible and accountable for the care of individual care home residents. Medical responsibility and accountability for the care of individual care home residents remains with their registered GP – and there may be residents with different registered GPs within a care home. We do not expect residents to be re-registered.”
In Derbyshire we already have a number of different models of how to provide this integrated wrap-around care. Following the system call at lunchtime, work is now in place to share this good practice and provide a truly integrated Practice, PCN, Place, Community team that will be tailored to each individual area need. More detail will follow next week
NATIONAL UPDATES
Bank Holiday. Following the Easter Bank Holidays that weren’t and the Early May Bank Holiday Monday that was on a Friday and was not really a Bank Holiday, NHSE have announced that “We can confirm that we anticipate treating 25th May as a normal Bank Holiday. This is dependent and conditional on local arrangements being made as normal to provide cover.” Thanks to Hannah Belcher at the CCG and DHU who have today confirmed that cover will be in place and practices will not be required to open on Monday 25th May 2020.
National flu immunisation programme 2020/21. A reminder from NHSE that practices should be planning to deliver the 2020/21 Flu immunisation programme in accordance with a letter published yesterday. Full details in the letter but in summary
- 65s and over – aTIV. (QIVc if aTIV is unavailable)
- Under-65s at risk, including pregnant women, - QIVc (QIVe an acceptable alternative)
- Childhood Flu – as before.
LOCAL UPDATES
Homeless Patient Registrations & Primary Care Access During COVID-19. A number of practices have queried the contact details for the Hostels in the information circulated by the CCG on Wednesday. These are now highlighted in Attachment C.
Testing. From 13-19th May 2020 there will be a pop-up Military Testing Unit located at Shipley Country Park, Slack Lane, Heanor, Derbyshire, DE75 7GX. Access is through the national self-referral portal.
Separate to this, key workers in health, social care, local government or the emergency services can still access testing at Toyota and The Proact Stadium (for symptomatic staff or household members, within first 5 days of showing symptoms and able to drive/bedriven to the site). Booking through ddccg.covid19keyhcwtesting@nhs.net
Changes to Integrated Sexual Health Services. These services have changed to protect staff, patients and local communities.
- No "walk-ins" at clinics during this time.
- Urgent booked appointments available at Wheatbridge, Chesterfield and London Road Community Hospital, Derby, Monday to Friday. Patients will be triaged via information and booking line 0800 328 3383.
- Saturday and community sexual health (peripheral) clinics are currently closed.
Full details in Attachment D and E.
Maintaining Social Distancing in Practices. As the number of physical attendances at practices increases with the slight relaxation of social distancing rules, some practices have contacted us about support with alterations that they may need to make to their reception areas. Jean Richards at the CCG is liaising with the regional NHSE premises team to scope any centralised support. More details to follow next week.
OTHER UPDATES
Deep Cleaning Offer. Johnsons have asked us to share their offer of a Touchless Disinfection Solution (Attachment F) which might be best suited for practice was deep cleaning a building that was being converted from a Red Hub back to a Green site. This company are offering to disinfect two hubs for free as a trial service. If interested, contact Barbara Evans on 0800 279 2505 or 07738 635 716. (Other cleaning services are available!)
Relate Relationship Survey. Relate, the leading relationship charity has produced a paper (Attachment G) illustrating the levels of relationship problems potentially being stored up as a result of COVID-19 lock down.
Visiting Arrangements for EOL. NHSE have published a Clinical guide for supporting compassionate visiting arrangements for those receiving care at the end of life (Attachment H).
Hospital Services. NHSE have asked us to share the Operating framework for urgent and planned services in hospital settings during COVID-19. (Attachment I)
AND FINALLY…
Apparently, a genuine letter from a vicar: “And finally, congratulations to our Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, on the birth of his sixth child. Of course, that’s only counting those born in hospital; the real figure could be much higher”.
While lockdown is starting to ease, please enjoy the sunshine this weekend but stay safe and remember
Think HANDS Think FACE Think SPACE
STAY SAFE