Updates
Update, 17 March
Published: 17 March 2020
Guidance on staff work attendance
The latest information about home working can be found here:
Patient visiting to be suspended from Wednesday 18 March
The latest position on visitors can be found here:
Congregational prayers cancelled
Please be aware that all congregational prayers and meditation sessions on our four sites are suspended until further notice. This includes all Muslim congregational prayers, Christian, Hindu, Sikh prayers and Buddhist/mindfulness meditation sessions.
The faith centres will however remain open for all to use, and the Chaplaincy/Spiritual Care team is available to staff, patients and visitors as usual. Please make referrals to the Chaplaincy team in the usual manner.
Think twice before calling Switchboard
In light of the current situation, Switchboard is fielding unmanageable volumes of calls from patients and staff. Please think twice before contacting Switchboard, and check rDirectory and the Trust intranet for contact details before picking up the phone.
To ease the pressure, please also check your own details are up-to-date in rDirectory. If they are incorrect, please follow the below instructions to edit them:
- Open rDirectory by clicking the desktop icon
- Select "Edit Properties" in the top right corner
- Check details, amend if necessary and click "Save"
Please note, details entered will be seen by all Trust staff.
NIHR key reminders
- COVID-19 studies are the priority
- Clinical staff to be redeployed across the network as required
- Local decisions about when to make changes with current studies being delivered
- The only performance that will be judged is on delivery of COVID-19 studies
HRA update
COVID-19: guidance for sponsors, sites and researchers
- There is an expeditedreviewprocessisavailablefornewstudiesrelatingtoCOVID-19
- First point of contact for these studies should be HRA Mainline on 020 797 22545 (out of hours, please contact 07968 149916)
- There is anexpeditedpathwayforamendmentstoexistingstudiestoaddressCOVID-19 elements
- Amendments are to be submitted through usual email routes, including “IRAS ref# Amendment - COVID-19” in email title
Guidance for pregnant staff
Guidance has been received from NHS England regarding colleagues who are pregnant:
"Adjustments should be made by NHS organisations to enable staff to stay well and at work wherever possible. Adjustments may include working remotely or moving to a lower risk area. Further guidance will be made available and the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology will provide further guidance about pregnant women."
In order to help you maintain good health and well-being at work, please contact your line manager to discuss your personal arrangements and ongoing care and support.