Updates
Update, 16 March
Published: 16 March 2020
Advice for staff regarding work attendance
Please note this advice has been withdrawn and no longer applies.
Healthcare workers are vital for the functioning of the health system to ensure that we can treat patients appropriately. In addition, managers have a high level of skill in assessing whether individual staff are developing symptoms that would require exclusion from work.
Any members of staff who have returned from travel overseas (including to countries or areas previously specified), or have exposure to confirmed cases within the community or the Trust, can carry on working in their usual role as long they are well.
If any staff are unwell (a new, persistent cough and/or a temperature of 37.8C/100F or over) they should follow the guidelines here:
General advice for staff
If you have any general inquiries that cannot be answered by your line manager and/or are not related to Occupational Health, you can now contact the COVID-19 Coordinating Centre via email or by phone, using the details below:
Email: COVID19staffgeneraladvice@uhb.nhs.uk
Tel: 0121 371 2437
(Non-occupational health related staff enquiries)
Email: COVID19CoordinatingCentre@uhb.nhs.uk
Tel: 0121 371 2167
Colleagues urged to use IT Serviceportal for tech support
IT is experiencing a dramatic increase in the number of phone calls to the Service Desk and as a result, call wait times are now much longer than usual. Colleagues across the Trust should use the IT Serviceportal (via the icon located on all computer desktops) to log all IT requests or issues.
Updated guidance
The staff PPE guide has been updated – you must review the latest guidance.
Guidance for the care of deceased patients and for moving/transferring of patients between departments is now available:
FAQ and advice for Emergency Department staff has been updated, including guidance on the use of chest x-rays and CT scans. A coronavirus intubation checklist and Coronavirus ED Pathway flowchart is also now available:
Support groups established
A number of groups have established to provide support to clinical decision makers across the professions. The aim of these groups is to provide consistent advice, communication and support.
The groups will report into the COVID-19 Strategic Group as described below:
Medical & Scientific Advisory Group (MSAG)
Information about the MSAG is available at:
Clinical Support Group (CSG)
Information about the CSG is available at:
Ethics and Legal Group (ELG)
This is a special purpose of our current Clinical Ethics Group which Dr Javid Kayani, Deputy Medical Director will chair.