Coronavirus staff guidance University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust

Redeployment of non-clinical staff and volunteering – update

Thank you to all the line managers who have completed the spreadsheet on staff who are available to be redeployed. For those who still need to do this, the spreadsheet is available from the "Downloads" section of this page.

Once the spreadsheet has been completed, please send it to the following email address.

Email: COVID19StaffRepurposing@uhb.nhs.uk

We’re contacting staff with information about a role (or roles) that would be a good fit for redeployment and if you haven’t heard from us yet, you can expect to in coming days.

If you’re keen and ready to be redeployed you are very welcome to email us to actively volunteer (please do speak to your line manager first). We especially need people to cover evening and weekend work, and if you are willing and able to take on a role which involves direct contact with frontline colleagues, as well as patients, please do let us know when you email.

Email: COVID19StaffRepurposing@uhb.nhs.uk

We have already redeployed people to support bereavement services, the registration and allocation of staff coming on shift in critical care, operational support roles at NHS Nightingale Hospital Birmingham, and ensuring there is adequate kit made up for ED.

We are hugely grateful for the willingness and flexibility staff have shown when being redeployed and for the support shown during this hugely challenging period.

Surgical gowns and scrubs

Staff are reminded that linen surgical gowns are reusuable and are not disposable.

Once they have been used, they need to be sent back intact and undamaged.

The correct procedure is that:

• Gowns go into a red alginate bag and then into a green linen bag
• Scrubs go into a red alginate bag (if contaminated) and into a white linen bag
• Both bags are then disposed of into a cage for porter collection and not a yellow waste bin

There have been issues with gowns going into waste bins, incorrect linen bags and ending up in the wrong place.

Failure to follow the correct procedure (see the "Downloads" section) could result in supply problems.

More information on linen services can be found on the following link:

• Linen

Transport of samples to Laboratory and use of air tube

When sending suspected COVID-19 patient samples to the Laboratory for testing, microbiology samples only should be placed in the blue bag.

Any other samples transported in the microbiology blue bag will be delayed until the sample bags are opened by Microbiology.

Following discussion with PHE you can now use the air tube for transporting Haematology and Clinical Chemistry samples to the laboratory from patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.

Please note: HGS microbiology/virology samples are processed at Heartlands Hospital and not transported to QEHB.

Guidance on Thromboprophylaxis for COVID patients

Due to the increasing incidence of Venous Thrombosis seen in COVID patients, the guidance for prevention of blood clots has been updated. Early Venous Thromboembolism risk factor identification and thromboprophylaxis (where not contraindicated) is essential, as well as high vigilance and prompt treatment of all VTE complications (such as pulmonary embolus).

There is an emerging evidence base but much of the guidance is based on best practice and clear scientific rationale. The Trust has issued new guidance which should be used for all adult (non-pregnant) patients at UHB. This proposes more intensive LMWH anticoagulation as a drug that has a proven effect in the prevention of thrombosis.

Please see the "Downloads" section to read the new guidance.