Coronavirus staff guidance University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust

New process for donated PPE

The Trust has established a process for PPE donations to ensure that only PPE that is NHS-approved is accepted.

If you have received an offer of donated PPE, please ensure donations are handled correctly and that colleagues have equipment that meets our standards and provides adequate protection.

• PPE donation guide

Seasons restaurant reopening

Seasons restaurant at Solihull Hospital will be reopening on Monday 18 May 2020.

The facility had been temporarily closed because of the Coronavirus outbreak.

Seasons will be opening Monday – Friday from 07:30 – 15:00 and serving as follows:

Free staff parking passes

Any passes that are due to expire can be renewed by attending the Security offices at Heartlands and Solihull hospitals or the Car Parking Portakabin at Good Hope.

Passes will be renewed until Sunday 31 May 2020 when we will review again based on Government and Trust guidance.

Please continue to get updates from the communication updates. We would respectfully ask that you do not email the Car Parking team for this information.

Life Questions

For many healthcare professionals this is a worrying time and has led to many NHS workers getting their affairs in order.

Law firm Mills & Reeve has developed a tool which is free to use and explains about making a will, guardianship appointment for children and lasting power of attorney.

• NHS staff discounts and offers

Letter supporting our BAME colleagues during COVID-19

It is clear that our Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) colleagues and communities have tragically been disproportionally affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This has been recognised at a national level and an inquiry to understand why this is the case is currently underway.

• Supporting our BAME colleagues during COVID-19

Valproate Pregnancy Prevention Programme: advice for management

Valproate medicines (for any indication) are contraindicated in girls and women of childbearing potential unless the conditions of the Pregnancy Prevention Programme (PPP) are fulfilled.

During the current COVID-19 pandemic, for girls and women of childbearing potential taking valproate, the MHRA has issued temporary advice to support adherence to the PPP requirements, in addition to ensuring that these requirements can be met safely.

The advice relates to considerations in consultations where valproate is being initiated, the annual review of existing patients, pregnancy testing and calls for reporting via the Yellow Card website.

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

Birmingham Health Partners support

The NHS response to COVID-19 will involve important and difficult work over a potentially prolonged period of time.

To help you stay well in these unprecedented times, we have collated a number of resources, tips and guidance, with our health partners for public, staff and students, and encourage you to share widely with colleagues, friends and family members who may find them useful.

• Mental health and wellbeing during COVID-19

Staff offer: bottled water

WH Smith is offering NHS staff one of the following bottles of water for free when you you buy anything in store (excluding gift cards, phone cards, charity products, stamps, lottery items or carrier bags).

• V Water Lemon & Lime 500ml
• V Water Pomegranate & Blueberry 500ml
• V Water Ginger & Mango 500ml
• Arto LIFEWTR 750ml

All items must be purchased in the same transaction and the offer is valid on Friday 15 May 2020.

To redeem the offer, NHS staff must show valid NHS ID/proof of NHS employment, or a NHS 20% staff discount card to store staff.